Emergencies: Planning

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many emergency disaster planning officers are in post in the UK; and who the employing body is of each such officer.

Chloe Smith: Such data is not collected centrally.

Emergencies: Planning

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the minimum number is of (a) fire appliances and (b) ambulances required to be within reach of UK airports in case of an emergency disaster planning procedure being initiated.

Chloe Smith: It is for each fire and rescue authorities to make their own decisions on operational response for specific incidents based on local risks. Responsibility for airport, fire and emergency cover lies with the airport operator.
	Issues relating to the ambulance service are a matter for the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt).

Voluntary Work: Olympic Games 2012

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent discussions he has had with LOCOG on engaging with volunteers from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics; and what the outcome of such discussions have been.

Nick Hurd: The Government is keen to use the momentum created by both Olympic and Paralympic Games to encourage even more, people to continue volunteering. We are currently in discussion with LOCOG, who own the database for the majority of volunteers, about how to best keep them engaged, to ensure that the volunteering and social action legacy of the games is maintained and enhanced.

Children in Care

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people aged (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 left care in 2011 in (i) Stafford constituency and (ii) England.

Edward Timpson: The information requested is not available at constituency level. Information for England and Staffordshire local authority is shown in the table below. Data for 2012 has also been presented for information.
	
		
			 Children aged 16, 17 and 18 years who ceased to be looked after in Staffordshire local authority and England, years ending 31 March 2011 and 2012 
			 Number 
			   Children who have ceased care in England (2,3,4,5) Children who have ceased care in Staffordshire  (1,3,6) 
			 2011 Age 16 1,930 20 
			  Age 17 1,790 25 
			  Age 18 6,280 65 
			 2012 Age 16 1,710 15 
			  Age 17 1,720 65 
			  Age 18 6,560 x 
			 Notes: 1. England numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Staffordshire numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. 3. Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. 4. In 2012 80% of Staffordshire's 17 year old leavers were just one day short of their 18th birthday. This is due to an issue with the IT system in terms of how children leaving care when they turn 18 were presented in 2012 data returns, Consequently the proportions of leavers aged 17 and 18 should be treated with caution. 5. Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. x Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality. Source: SSDA 903

Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2012, Official Report, column 699W, on Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats, 
	(1)  whether he was aware of the past employment history of (a) Elena Narozanski, (b) Janet Grauberg and (c) Alexandra Gowlland at the time when they were appointed by his Department;
	(2)  whether he or other Ministers in his Department had any role in the appointment by his Department of (a) Elena Narozanski, (b) Janet Grauberg and (c) Alexandra Gowlland;
	(3)  if he will consult each Minister or former Minister since May 2010 in his Department on whether they were personally aware of any appointments falling into the categories defined.

Elizabeth Truss: All recruitment to become a civil servant is in line with the civil service commissions' rules. Department's must undertake various pre-appointment checks that includes questions on whether applicants are currently involved in activities which may compromise their impartial position in the civil service and the Department; this is to prevent any allegations of bias or prejudice in the conduct of official duties; misuse of official information; or misappropriation of public funds.
	All of the individuals you name will have undergone these checks before taking up their employment.

Freedom of Information

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to ensure that his special advisers understand the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Elizabeth Truss: h olding reply sent 17 October 
	In common with all other officials in the Department, Special Advisers have access to a number of sources of information on the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Freedom of Information

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department and the public bodies for which he is responsible responded to within the statutory timescales in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Elizabeth Truss: Quarterly and annual statistics on Freedom of Information requests received by a number of central government monitored bodies (including all departments of state) are published by the Ministry of Justice on their website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/foi/implementation
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/foi/implementation/implementation-editions
	The Department is asked to collate these statistics to provide a picture of FOI performance across central Government departments.

GCSE: English Language

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from schools in Birmingham on this year's GCSE English results.

Elizabeth Truss: h olding reply sent 17 Octobe r
	The Government has received representations about the GCSE English results 2012, including via Members of Parliament, from five individuals who identified themselves as working .in schools and who work or live in Birmingham.

King's Priory Academy

Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  if he will publish his Department's impact assessment on the decision to support the application for academy status for the proposed King's Priory Academy in Tynemouth;
	(2)  on what date ministerial approval was given to support the proposal for academy status for King's Priory Academy in Tynemouth;
	(3)  on what date the letter from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Tynemouth dated 12 July 2012 announcing support for the proposed King's Priory Academy in Tynemouth was sent;
	(4)  if he will list the occasions upon which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department met the Woodard Trust to discuss the proposal for academy status for King's Priory Academy in Tynemouth;
	(5)  if he will list the occasions upon which (a) Ministers, (b) officials in his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department met (i) the elected Mayor of North Tyneside, (ii) other elected representatives of North Tyneside council and (iii) officers of North Tyneside council to discuss the proposal for academy status for Kings Priory Academy in Tynemouth.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 18 September 2012
	Ministerial approval for the Academy Action Plan proposal for academy status for King's Priory Academy was given on 12 July. As this was after Kings School had broken up for the summer, the Woodard Trust asked us to hold the announcement until the school had returned in September. The letter to the hon. Member was sent on 3 September, the date of the announcement on the first day of term. Officials in the Department have met with the Woodard Trust on a number of occasions this year to discuss the proposal; there have been no meetings with Ministers. There have been no meetings between Ministers, officials or special advisers and the elected Mayor of North Tyneside, other elected representatives of North Tyneside council or officers of North Tyneside council to discuss the proposal. However, Departmental officials have been in contact with officers from North Tyneside council since the announcement and are in continuing discussion with them about the proposal. The full impact assessment is being worked up as part of the project development, in consultation and collaboration with the Director for Children's Services from North Tyneside council.

Vocational Training

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department are taking to ensure that pupils are provided with the skills and vocational training necessary to improve the long-term prospects of UK manufacturing.

Matthew Hancock: The Department is aware of the skills shortages in specific employment sectors and is committed to ensuring all 16 to 19-year-olds are equipped with the right skills and training they need for further study and work. We have focused on raising standards in maths and English, which are absolutely vital for all students' future prospects. We also commissioned Professor Alison Wolfs review of vocational education and have made excellent progress in implementing its recommendations. We have refocused 14-16 vocational education on a small number of high value vocational qualifications and expanded vocational opportunities at university technical colleges and studio schools. From September 2013 all 16 to 19-year-olds, and not just those studying A-levels, will have the opportunity to undertake a study programme which combine qualifications of real value to employers and universities with work experience and the study of maths and English.

Anti-slavery Day

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to promote anti-slavery day.

Mark Harper: 10 members of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, including myself, are undertaking a range of activities on or around anti-slavery day to raise awareness of this important issue.

Asylum

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were granted to (a) women and (b) men on the basis of (i) gender-related violence and (ii) sexual orientation in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: The data requested is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols, or produced as part of the UK Border Agency's standard reports.
	However, the Home Office publishes the number of asylum applications and initial decisions by gender on an annual basis. Latest figures can be found in Table as.03 and Table as.05 of the release ‘Immigration Statistics—April to June’ which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q2-2012/

Bail

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed by people on bail in each region of the UK in 2011; and what crimes were committed in such cases.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	The following table shows the number of offenders convicted for a new offence while on bail. These figures in the table are a count of court appearances and may include instances where offenders are convicted for multiple crimes. This has been broken down into two categories and split into the Government office regions based on local authority information. There are over 6,000 types of crime recorded by the PNC and it is not feasible to list all the crimes in one table.
	
		
			 Number of offenders convicted for a new offence while on bail, 2011, England and Wales 
			 Region All convictions (1) Indictable offences 
			 North East 7,669 5,218 
			 North West 9,539 6,404 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 8,198 5,768 
			 East Midlands 5,184 3,652 
			 West Midlands 4,203 3,021 
			 East of England 4,251 2,845 
			 London 8,416 6,107 
			 South East 7,172 4,841 
			 South West 4,438 3,113 
			 Wales 4,247 2,934 
			 Unknown(2) 2,310 1,590 
			 Total 65,627 45,553 
			 (1 )All convictions include summary offences and indictable offences (indictable offences relate to crimes deemed serious enough to be automatically tried within a Crown court). Within all convictions are crimes relating to bail. (2) Unknown includes all offences committed that are not mapped to a region and may include crimes outside of England and Wales (ie Scotland and Northern Ireland). Source: Police National computer, Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	The figures given in the table have been drawn from the extract of Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Ministry of Justice. As with any large scale recording system the PNC is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	In particular the recording of information on whether or not the offence was committed while the offender was on bail is known to be incomplete. This is because the police have available to them a number of ways of recording the bail status of an offender of which the 'offence committed on bail' field on the PNC is one. For operational purposes police forces make differing use of these various sources and as a result figures derived purely from the PNC do not provide a complete picture of these offences, and therefore changes over time. These data may not represent real changes in offending while on bail.

Bail

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders were committed by persons on bail in each of the last 22 years.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	The table shows the numbers of offenders convicted for murder whilst on bail since 2000. Please note that the PNC only became operational from the year 2000 and we do not hold complete or reliable data prior to this date.
	
		
			 Table: Number of offenders convicted for murder (1)  whilst on bail, 2001 to 2011, England and Wales 
			  All convictions 
			 2000 27 
			 2001 25 
			 2002 25 
			 2003 27 
			 2004 37 
			 2005 42 
			 2006 45 
		
	
	
		
			 2007 50 
			 2008 43 
			 2009 47 
			 2010 31 
			 2011 37 
			 Total 436 
			 (1) Murder comprises of the following crimes: Murder; Common law murder of persons aged 1 year or over; and Common law murder of infants under 1 year of age. Source: Police National Computer, Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	The figures given in the table have been drawn from the extract of Police National Computer (PNC) data held by the Ministry of Justice. As with any large scale recording system the PNC is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	In particular the recording of information on whether or not the offence was committed while the offender was on bail is known to be incomplete. This is because the police have available to them a number of ways of recording the bail status of an offender of which the 'offence committed on bail' field on the PNC is one. For operational purposes police forces make differing use of these various sources and as a result figures derived purely from the PNC do not provide a complete picture of these offences, and therefore changes over time. These figures may not represent real changes in offending whilst on bail. Furthermore, the information held does not indicate the nature of the earlier offence for which the bail was granted but it is likely that most of the offences summarised in the table will have been committed while the offender was on bail for a less serious offences.

Deportation

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) chartered and (b) other flights have been used by the UK Border Agency to return foreign national criminals and failed asylum seekers to their home countries in each of the last five financial years; what the cost was of such flights in each such year; and how many people were returned on such flights in each such year.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency enforces the return of individuals whom it is satisfied have no right to be in the United Kingdom and who do not leave voluntarily. The Agency uses a mixture of both chartered and scheduled flights to achieve successful, cost effective removals.
	It is not possible to provide the information requested on the number of "other flights" used over the last five years. Published statistics record the number of individuals removed rather than the number of flights used by the UK Border Agency. Immigration statistics are published annually and quarterly in the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom bulletins, which are available on the Home Office's Science, Research and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-tabs-q2-2011v2/removals-q2-11-tabs
	The following tables may be of use:
	rv.01—Removals and voluntary departures by type and asylum / non-asylum cases—2004 to 2011
	rv.01 .q—Removals and voluntary departures by type and asylum / non-asylum cases—Q1 2004 to Q2 2012
	The following table shows the number of chartered flights in each of the last five financial years, and the number of foreign national offenders and failed asylum seekers returned via such flights in each financial year. These removals are included in the published statistics above.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of charter flights Failed asylum seekers Foreign national offenders Total removed 
			 2007-08 68 n/a n/a 1,263 
			 2008-09 67 n/a n/a 1,658 
			 2009-10 67 n/a n/a 2,144 
			 2010-11 53 1,202 473 1,826 
			 2011-12 36 1,040 291 1,647 
		
	
	The total cost of flights used for each of the last five financial years is detailed in the table. This includes total operating costs for all chartered and other flights as accounting information does not provide a more detailed breakdown. The data is taken from management information, which is provisional, subject to change and does not form part of national statistics.
	Increased expenditure on charter flights from the UK reflects the general rise in the cost of air travel since 2004, and a greater number of flights to countries outside Europe.
	The annual cost of UKBA led charter flights has risen since 2004-05 because the Agency has had to return more people over that period to long haul destinations. 2004-05 saw charters depart to Kosovo, Albania and Romania while in 2010-11, destinations have included Jamaica, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Iraq. Both this and the general increase in aviation costs over recent years account for the increased expenditure.
	
		
			 Gross removal costs 2005-10 
			  Public Expense Removals (PERs)  ( £ million ) 
			 2006-07 20.2 
			 2007-08 22.3 
			 2008-09 27.0 
			 2009-10 27.5 
			 2010-11 28.4

Deportation

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases it has taken (a) two, (b) three and (c) four attempts to return a foreign national criminal or failed asylum seeker because of disruption to the flight or a last-minute legal appeal in each of the last three years.

Mark Harper: The data requested is not published or routinely recorded by the UK Border Agency. It is not possible to provide an accurate breakdown without examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

Deportation: Armed Forces

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) foreign and (b) Commonwealth soldiers have been deported following an unsuccessful application for (i) British citizenship and (ii) leave to remain as a result of unspent criminal convictions in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The data requested is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols, or produced as part of the UK Border Agency's standard report.
	The Home Office publishes immigration statistics annually and quarterly, which are available from the Home Office Research and Statistics website. This includes information on removals by nationality. The latest statistics can be found in the Library of the House as well as on the following website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q2-2012/

London Metropolitan University

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 September 2012, Official Report, column 507W, on London Metropolitan University, what the required criteria are to acquire a Tier 4 sponsor licence.

Mark Harper: London Metropolitan University will be eligible to apply for a new sponsor licence from 1 March 2013. The tier 4 sponsor licence criteria are lengthy and are published in separate guidance and annexes. The link to the published guidance on the UK Border Agency website is as follows:
	www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pbsguidance

Overseas Students: Registration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  for what reasons overseas students are required to register with the Overseas Visitor Registration Office on arrival in the UK’
	(2)  on how many occasions between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011, and for what reasons, the UK Border Agency accessed data submitted by international students to the Overseas Visitor Registration Office;
	(3)  what use is made of the information provided by international students to the Overseas Visitor Registration Office;
	(4)  whether the UK Border Agency already holds the details submitted to the Overseas Visitor Registration Office by international students at the time that such students register on arrival in the UK;
	(5)  on what date the list of countries whose residents must register with the Overseas Visitor Registration Office when they arrive in the UK as international students was last updated.

Mark Harper: holding answer 18 October 2012
	The Police (Foreign Nationals) Registration Scheme was set out in regulations made in 1972. This scheme sets out a requirement for immigrants of specified nationalities, who are granted at least six months' leave to remain, to register with the police within seven days of their arrival in the UK. The scheme is not specific to students. The list of nationalities required to register is set out in appendix 2 to the Immigration Rules. This list was last amended in May 1998. In view of the passage of time since the scheme was last reviewed, my officials have been conducting a review of the scheme and I have asked them to report to me by April 2013.
	The UK Border Agency (UKBA) does not record the number of occasions that the information collected by the police is accessed. The review of the scheme is considering how this information is used and whether it could be better obtained by other means.
	Much of the information collected under the scheme is now available to UKBA.
	An example of information that is not collected by UKBA is the addresses of students. On arrival in the UK, students often have not yet been allocated an address by their educational institution so provide UKBA with the address at which they will be spending only their first night.

Procurement

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to monitor the payment (a) of its main contractors within 14 days and (b) by main contractors to sub-contractors within 30 days.

Mark Harper: Prompt payment for the Home Office's main contractors is measured and reported monthly against the prompt payment target of 80% set by Government for all Departments. The Home Office's performance for financial year 2012-13 is currently 85% of ail valid invoices paid within the target of five days.
	The Home Office does not keep regular performance figures on payment by main contractors to sub contractors within 30-days.
	Home Office standard terms and conditions include a term requesting contractors to pay their sub-contractors within 30-days of receipt of a valid invoice.
	As part of the Department's annual Corporate Assessment of Environmental, Social and Economic Regeneration (CAESER) questionnaire confirmation is sought from major strategic suppliers that they have a policy in place to ensure that suppliers are paid within 30-days.

Anti-Slavery Day

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to mark Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October.

Theresa Villiers: This is a matter for which I have no ministerial responsibility, but the Government observed the day with a ministerial visit to a school in Coulsdon to examine the issues faced by young people and the role of schools in tackling human trafficking.

Members: Correspondence

Derek Twigg: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Halton of 14 September 2012 in respect of the Hillsborough Independent Panel Report.

David Cameron: A reply was sent by the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), on 15 October 2012.

Apprentices

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many apprentices working in his Department are (a) paid and (b) completing a qualification as part of the apprenticeship;
	(2)  how many (a) paid apprentices and (b) paid interns are employed in his Department.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not currently have any apprentices working in the Department, however we are in the process of recruiting up to 10 apprentices who will be in post by mid-January 2013.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government currently has six paid interns working in the Department. All internship opportunities offered by the Department are advertised.

Housing

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the need to change the law relating to payments demanded as a result of covenanted properties that are (a) leasehold and (b) freehold.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	Where a landowner (A) in England and Wales is subject to an obligation to obtain the consent of another person (B) before altering A's property, the terms of the covenant will be set out in the land register, title deeds or lease. It is quite usual for the covenant to provide for B's consent not to be unreasonably withheld and for A to be obliged to reimburse costs reasonably incurred by B in the course of considering the application. These payments are separate from any obligation on A to pay a service charge. Subject to the terms of any relevant statute, the extent of A's obligations and B's rights will be defined by the express terms of the covenant. Disputes regarding the covenants can, if necessary, be resolved by the court.
	Examples of relevant statutes include: Schedule 11 to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, which enables residential tenants (leaseholders) to challenge the reasonableness of administration charges in the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal and section 19(2) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927, which gives landlords the right to recover legal or other expenses property incurred in connection with an application for licence or consent to carry out improvements to the tenanted property.
	The Government considers that the present law generally works satisfactorily and does not have any plans to change it. We will, however, keep the situation under review.

Sleeping Rough: Veterans

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people with an armed forces background were sleeping rough in (a) Denton and Reddish constituency and (b) Greater Manchester in each year since 2000; and what proportion of the total number of rough sleepers that figure represents in each such year.

Mark Prisk: The latest figures (2011-12) from CHAIN (Combined Homeless and Information Network), which covers London and contains detailed information on London's rough sleepers over the year, highlights that only 4% of rough sleepers from the UK have experience of serving in the armed forces.
	The Department publishes an annual headline figure on the number of people sleeping rough on a single night across England. This does not provide more detailed information such as whether they have served in the armed forces.
	We secured an additional £70 million last year to help local agencies prevent and tackle homelessness. This includes the £20 million Homelessness Transition Fund to support the national roll out of No Second Night Out, tackle rough sleeping and protect vital front line services and the £20 million Single Homelessness Prevention Fund to help ensure single homeless people get access to good housing advice.
	This is on top of the existing £10.8 million to help single people access private rented sector accommodation and the £400 million we are investing for homelessness prevention over four years (2011-12 to 2014-15).
	The Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness published its second report Making Every Contact Count in August which focuses on preventing homelessness and includes people leaving the armed forces. A copy of the report can be obtained at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/makingeverycontactcount
	We are determined to ensure that current and former members of the armed forces gain the housing they deserve, recognising the sacrifices they have made for the country. We have, therefore, introduced measures to place members of the armed forces at the top of the priority list for home ownership schemes, including FirstBuy.
	We published the final new statutory social allocations guidance on 29 June following consultation, setting out how councils' allocation schemes can give priority to all service personnel, including through the use of local preference criteria and local lettings policies.
	We are also changing the law by regulation so that former personnel with urgent housing needs are always given 'additional preference' (high priority) for social housing; and councils are prevented from applying local connection requirements to disqualify members of the armed forces and those within five years of leaving the services. Following consultation, we are also extending these regulations to bereaved spouses and seriously injured reservists. The qualification regulations came into force on 24 August; the additional preference regulations were laid before Parliament on 18 October.

Armed Forces: Housing

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his Department's written evidence to the Defence Select Committee's inquiry into the Armed Forces Covenant in Action? Part 2: Accommodation, what progress the working group with the Department for Energy and Climate Change has made on the energy efficiency of service family accommodation.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has held a number of Working Group meetings with the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), and although the Working Group has now concluded its business, both Departments will continue to liaise as and when required.
	The MOD has obtained funding under the carbon emissions reduction target (CERT) initiative to carry out an extensive programme of loft and cavity insulation works across the Service Family Accommodation (SFA) estate, providing new or improved insulation to 10,000 properties. Further work to improve insulation to the remaining properties will be carried out as part of the MOD's UK SFA improvement programme.
	The MOD is also taking forward works which falls within the scope of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) of the Green Deal. This will provide energy efficiency measures to hard to treat properties, and will be delivered as part of the UK SFA improvement programme.

Armed Forces: Religion

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of members of each (a) faith and (b) denomination in the (i) service and (ii) civilian branches of the armed forces.

Mark Francois: The following table contains the UK Regular armed forces strength by religion as at 1 July 2012:
	
		
			 Religion Denomination Naval service Army RAF All services 
			 Buddhist  40 440 40 520 
			       
			 Christian  27,520 88,310 30,840 146,670 
			  Baptist 150 440 220 810 
			  Christian 170 80 160 400 
			  Christian (unspecified) 2,700 7,540 1,320 11,560 
			  Church in Wales 90 1,210 250 1,550 
			  Church of England 17,560 53,400 20,840 91,800 
			  Church of Ireland 130 800 170 1,100 
			  Church of Scotland 1,510 5,700 2,080 9,280 
			  Congregational 10 20 30 60 
			  Eastern Orthodox — — — 10 
			  Free Church of Scotland 20 10 10 50 
			  Free Presbyterian 10 1,150 — 1,160 
			  Greek Orthodox 10 20 — 20 
			  Lutheran — 10 — 20 
			  Methodist 700 2,680 980 4,360 
			  Moravian — — — 10 
			  Orthodox — 50 10 70 
			  Other Christian 40 860 20 910 
		
	
	
		
			  Pentecostal 70 450 30 550 
			  Plymouth Brethren — — — 10 
			  Presbyterian 160 220 200 580 
			  Presbyterian Church in Ireland 20 580 80 670 
			  Presbyterian Church of Wales — 10 — 10 
			  Quaker (Society of Friends) — — — — 
			  Roman Catholic 4,090 12,730 4,320 21,140 
			  Russian Orthodox — — — — 
			  Salvation Army 20 80 30 130 
			  Scottish Episcopal Church 10 40 20 70 
			  Seventh Day Adventist 20 130 — 160 
			  United Free Church of Scotland — — — — 
			  United Reformed Church 30 70 70 170 
			       
			 Christian Tradition  80 110 60 250 
			  Christian Scientist 10 — 10 20 
			  Christian Tradition 20 10 20 50 
			  Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) 20 60 20 100 
			  Jehovah's Witness — — — — 
			  Other Christian Tradition 30 30 — 60 
			  Unitarian — — 10 10 
			       
			 Hindu  20 790 40 840 
			       
			 Judaism  10 60 10 80 
			       
			 Muslim  40 560 50 650 
			       
			 Sikh  10 100 20 140 
			       
			 Other religions  170 490 160 820 
			  Baha'i — 10 — 10 
			  Druid — — — 10 
			  Kirati — 30 — 30 
			  Other religions 120 250 100 480 
		
	
	
		
			  Pagan 20 60 40 110 
			  Rastafarian 10 100 — 110 
			  Spiritualist 10 30 10 50 
			  Wicca 10 10 — 20 
			  Zoroastrian (Parsee) — — — — 
			       
			 No religion  7,260 12,660 6,720 26,640 
			  Agnostic 390 3,330 660 4,380 
			  Atheist 1,090 6,550 1,420 9,070 
			  Humanist 20 50 30 100 
			  No religion 420 460 540 1,420 
			  No religion (unspecified) 5,220 2,070 3,990 11,290 
			  Other beliefs 100 190 70 360 
			  Secularist 10 10 — 20 
			       
			 Unknown  100 80 1,500 1,680 
			       
			 Total  35,250 103,590 39,440 178,280 
			 ‘—’ Denotes zero or figures rounded to zero. 
		
	
	This table does not include Gurkhas who have their own religious support, provided by Hindu and Buddhist religious teachers. All figures have been rounded where appropriate and may not exactly equal the sum of the parts.
	The faith of civilian personnel within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is not recorded in an equivalent way to armed forces personnel and is only offered on a voluntary basis. The following table provides the strength of the MOD civilian work force by religion as at 1 July 2012:
	
		
			 Religion or belief Strength 
			 Christian 24,960 
			 Non Christian 1,800 
			 No religion 8,520 
			 Chose not to declare 9,130 
			 No response 7,870 
			 Total 52,280 
		
	
	Totals include all industrial and non-industrial personnel but exclude all trading funds, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and locally engaged civilians for whom declaration data is not available.

Training

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what media or public speaking training Ministers in his Department have received since May 2010.

Mark Francois: Training is available to Ministers on a range of issues, including handling the media, as part of their induction and continuing development in order to carry out their duties effectively under the Ministerial Code .
	The Ministry of Defence's internal media and communications training organisation has provided the following training sessions to Ministers since May 2010:
	24 June 2010—Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Mr Peter Luff
	24 May 2011—Under-Secretary of State Lord Astor of Hever

Air Pollution

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the control of air pollution throughout the UK.

Richard Benyon: The Government has made a commitment to work towards full compliance with EU air quality standards. Air quality has improved significantly in recent decades; the UK now meets most EU air quality standards thanks to action taken by the Government over many years to reduce emissions, including from industrial, energy and transport sources. However, there are still more improvements to be made and we will continue to investigate new measures to improve air quality, working with external stakeholders in transport and other sectors. We work closely with local authorities and the Greater London Authority, which have responsibility for local air quality. We also support actions to reduce pollution through tackling congestion, promoting cycling and walking, and improving vehicle fleets.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what monitoring arrangements his Department is putting in place to ensure that badgers killed during the cull are killed humanely.

David Heath: To ensure an acceptable level of humaneness, operators will be required to follow Best Practice Guidelines, undertake training and competence testing. Independent monitoring will be undertaken to assess the humaneness of controlled shooting during the pilots. The development of the monitoring protocols has been overseen by the panel of independent experts. The monitoring will include field observations and post mortems.

Shrimps

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of how the invasive shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus, was imported into the UK;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the environment of the spread within the UK of the invasive shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to control the spread within the UK of the invasive shrimp, Dikerogammarus villosus.

Richard Benyon: The four locations in which “Dikerogammarus villosus” has been recorded are all used for various types of water sports (including angling) so it is possible that the shrimp was introduced among wet equipment (e.g. boats, wet-suits, nets) that had been used previously in mainland Europe where the shrimp occurs.
	A risk assessment for “Dikerogammarus villosus”, commissioned by DEFRA, concluded that the risk from this species is very high. This is based on the fact that the ecological impacts experienced in areas of Europe that the shrimp has colonised have been very large and dramatic; the species has already established large viable populations here; that Britain is climatically similar to many of the places in Europe that the shrimp has invaded; and that the interconnectivity of the water network will facilitate rapid spread.
	At the four locations where “Dikerogammarus villosus” has been recorded, the routes by which the shrimp might escape from the sites have been assessed and a range of control measures have been put in place. Additionally, in partnership with a number of interested organisations, DEFRA is trying to slow the spread of “Dikerogammarus villosus” by ensuring that all equipment and clothing that is used in water sports is checked, cleaned and dried before it is used elsewhere. Information on the “Check, Clean, Dry” campaign and associated guidance is published on the Non-native Species Secretariat website.

Trees: Import Controls

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to prohibit the importation of ash trees to prevent the spread of disease.

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what consideration his Department is giving to prohibiting the import of young ash trees from countries where the fungus Chalara fraxinea is known to exist;
	(2)  what steps his Department has taken to prevent the fungus Chalara fraxinea from entering the UK.

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to temporarily ban the import of ash trees.

David Heath: The Government is taking the threat posed by Chalara fraxinea extremely seriously.
	Officials from the Forestry Commission and the Food and Environment Research Agency are working together to protect the UK's ash trees in response to the UK findings of ash dieback caused by Chalara fraxinea.
	The Plant Health Authorities are following up findings. Trees found to be infected are destroyed and those in the vicinity of infected sites are also being monitored by the Plant Health Authority to check for the presence of the disease. Inspections of nurseries growing and trading ash plants as well as monitoring of the wider environment are taking place. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), recently confirmed our intention to introduce a ban on ash imports and movements, if this was supported by the outcome of the current consultation on the Pest Risk Assessment for this disease and the results of the surveillance being carried out. The consultation will close on 26 October. A ban could then come into force before the main planting season gets under way in November. In the meantime, we will continue to act on a precautionary basis against any further findings.

Industrial Health and Safety

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's target is for consolidating or revoking health and safety regulations.

Mark Hoban: Professor Lofstedt in his independent review of health and safety legislation recommended that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertake a programme of sector-specific consolidations and revocations of regulations in order to simplify the regulatory framework, reduce duplication and avoid gold plating. The Government has not, however, set a target for consolidating or revoking health and safety regulations.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants referred each month from jobcentres to the Work programme has declined over the last year.

Mark Hoban: Jobseekers' allowance referrals have declined over the last year, however this is against a backdrop of much higher than anticipated JSA volumes in year one. The additional year one numbers were largely due to the transition from the Flexible New Deal and increased numbers of mandatory early entry claimants. It remains the case that overall jobseekers' allowance volumes are higher than those published during the bidding process.

Research

Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what external policy research her Department has commissioned in each of the last six years; from which organisation each such piece of research was commissioned; and what the cost of each such piece of research was.

Lynne Featherstone: We are unable to answer this question comprehensively without incurring disproportionate costs. A strong evidence base in development is essential as value for money and optimal impact starts with an understanding of what works. We commission research in agriculture, health, education, growth, climate and the environment, governance, conflict and social development and in cross cutting issues such as urbanisation. The amount spent on centrally commissioned research over the last six years by the Department for International Development (DFID) is as follows;
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2006-07 110 
			 2007-08 130 
			 2008-09 125 
			 2009-10 177 
			 2010-11 203 
			 2011-12 222 
		
	
	The commissioning of research is largely undertaken directly by competitive tendering. However DFID also commissions research through indirect partnering with other organisations such as the United Kingdom Research Councils who manage a competitive process of research calls on our behalf.
	The main sources of information that can give more precise details relating to this request are as follows:
	ResearchforDevelopment (R4D) is an online portal containing details of research funded by DFID over the last 10 years, in over 30,000 project and document records. You can search the site in many different ways, including by project start and end date. The database also includes details of project spend and the organisations from which research is commissioned:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/R4D/Default.aspx
	DFID's projects database contains summaries of each project DFID funds, including research ones. You can search the database in many different ways, including by start date, and by DFID Department, including Research and Evidence Division. The database includes details of project spend by financial year:
	http://projects.dfid.gov.uk/
	DFID Research Report 2009-10 which describes projects that DFID was funding at that time:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/r4d/PDF/Publications/rsrch-rpt-09-10.pdf

Burglary

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the 12-month reconviction rate was for each type of sentence for those found guilty of domestic burglary in each year since 1994;
	(2)  what the average number of reconvictions per offender was of those found guilty of domestic burglary in each year since 1994;
	(3)  how many people found guilty of committing burglary went on to commit (a) no more crimes, (b) between one and five crimes, (c) between six and 10 crimes, (d) between 11 and 20 crimes and (e) more than 20 crimes in each year since 1994;
	(4)  what the 12-month reconviction rate was of those found guilty of domestic burglary in each year since 1994.

Helen Grant: Table 1 presents the number of adult (aged 18 or over) and juvenile (aged 10 to 17) offenders in England and Wales released from custody, receiving a non-custodial conviction at court, caution reprimand or warning in each of the years 2000, 2002 to 2009 (the latest calendar year available) after being found guilty of domestic burglary. Also presented are the proven re-offending rates (i.e. the proportion of the offenders found guilty of domestic burglary who re-offended in a one year follow up period) and the average number of re-offences per offender.
	2000 is the earliest year for which proven re-offending data exist on a comparable basis and data is not available for 2001 due to a problem with archived data on Court Orders. Data for 2010 will be published on 25 October 2012.
	Table 2 is a further breakdown of table 1 showing re-offending rates by the type of sentence received by those found guilty of domestic burglary. Re-offending rates by sentence type should not be compared to assess the effectiveness of sentences, as there is no control for known differences in offender characteristics.
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown of all re-offences committed by these offenders to date because re-offending data is based on a one year follow up period. However, for your information, Table 3 presents those offenders found guilty of burglary which includes domestic and other burglary offences and the number of re-offences they committed in a one year follow up period.
	Proven re-offending is defined as any offence committed in a one year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one year follow-up period or a further six month waiting period to allow cases to progress through the courts.
	
		
			 Table 1: Proven re-offending rates of offenders found guilty of domestic burglary 
			  2000 2002 2003 2004 200S 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 Adult offenders          
			 Proportion of offenders who re-offend (%) 58.0 58.5 55.0 52.5 50.0 48.0 49.1 50.6 47.4 
			 Average number of re-offences per offender (frequency rate) 2.37 2.40 2.09 1.94 1.73 1.50 1.62 1.60 1.43 
			 Number of offenders in cohort 8,091 7,455 7,686 7,125 6,819 6,784 7.309 7,594 7,248 
			           
			 Juvenile offenders          
			 Proportion of offenders who re-offend (%) 47.1 46.8 47.7 47.6 47.1 48.4 46.0 49.1 49.9 
			 Average number of re-offences per offender {frequency rate) 1.88 1.82 1.82 1.73 1.66 1.74 1.67 1.71 1.67 
			 Number of offenders in cohort 3,620 3,268 3,106 3,124 3,266 3,333 3,209 2,817 2,776 
			 Note: Data is not available for 2001 due to a problem with archived data on Court Orders. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Proven re-offending rates of offenders found guilty of domestic burglary by type of sentence received 
			  Index disposal 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 
			 Adults Absolute discharge (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			  Caution 22.4 21.6 27.1 23.2 26.3 26.2 27.6 25.2 25.3 
			  Conditional discharge 35.9 39.1 37.3 31.1 43.9 31.4 26.3 24.7 26.2 
			  Court orders 46.3 53.8 51.4 51.5 48.9 46.3 48.1 48.7 41.4 
			  Fines 0.0 39.1 43.9 36.1 25.9 43.9 33.9 20.4 (1)— 
			  Prison 37.1 64.2 60.7 57.5 56.1 55.8 55.9 58.7 56.1 
			  Other 37.0 35.7 33.7 27.4 41.2 29.3 28.1 18.4 19.7 
			            
			 Juveniles First tier penalty 47.8 42.0 44.0 41.7 42.9 43.6 41.4 39.3 41.6 
			  Prison 78.9 78.4 82.3 83.2 80.3 81.1 82.4 84.0 83.1 
			  Youth Community penalty 57.9 64.3 68 3 68.0 68.0 69.9 66.1 69.4 68.6 
			  Youth Pre-court Disposal 28.6 27.1 29 5 31.3 31.2 33.8 28.9 30.5 30.6 
			  Youth—Other 51.8 56.9 71.4 66.0 68.9 69.4 62.5 62.9 57.5 
			 (1) Data based on less than 30 offenders or offences are removed as they make data unreliable for interpretation. Note: Data is not available for 2001 due to a problem with archived data on Court Orders. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 3: Number of re-offences committed in the one year follow up period by offenders found guilty of burglary 
			  Year No re-offences 1 to 5 re-offences 6 to 10 re-offences 11 to 20 re-offences 21 and over re-offences 
			 Adults 2000 6,547 6,053 1,547 482 (1)27 
			  2002 5,972 5,769 1,548 509 (1)29 
			  2003 6,160 5,850 1,387 441 (1)30 
			  2004 6,040 5,379 1,201 325 (1)17 
			  2005 6,286 5,050 1,003 253 (1)12 
			  2006 6,809 5,275 854 208 (1)17 
			  2007 7,124 5,742 991 236 (1)14 
			  2008 7,105 6,022 885 227 (1)19 
			  2009 7,179 5,573 786 185 (1)12 
		
	
	
		
			        
			 Juveniles 2000 5,547 3,119 603 240 (1)25 
			  2002 4,883 2.746 1,335 208 (1)24 
			  2003 4,445 2,599 514 193 (1)8 
			  2004 4,194 2,600 449 148 (1)18 
			  2005 4,542 2,750 455 131 (1)12 
			  2006 4,691 3,006 466 159 (1)11 
			  2007 4,537 2,732 448 136 (1)8 
			  2008 3,657 2,367 374 96 (1)7 
			  2009 3,163 2,070 330 88 (1)7 
			 (1) Less than 30 offenders—treat data with caution. Note: Data is not available for 2001 due to a problem with archived data on Court Orders.

Departmental Responsibilities

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 777, on departmental responsibilities, if he will set out the role to be played in his Department by the hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford.

Chris Grayling: As I announced to the House on 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 777, I have agreed with the Chief Whip that, on occasions, when necessary, the Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty's Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Mr Evennett), will provide support to the team and the House.
	My hon. Friend will assist other Ministry of Justice Ministers during debates in the House and will respond to other parliamentary business on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Homicide: Prisoners' Release

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the shortest sentence served by a convicted murderer before their release from prison was in the last 15 years;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the current average sentence served by those convicted of murder;
	(3)  how many people have been murdered by individuals who have previously been convicted of murder and then released having served their prison sentences in each of the last 15 years.

Helen Grant: A mandatory life sentence is the only sentence that can be imposed on anyone who is convicted of murder.
	Life sentence prisoners must serve a minimum period of imprisonment to meet the needs of retribution and deterrence. This punitive period is announced by the trial judge in open court and is known commonly as the “tariff” period. No life sentence prisoner can expect to be released before they have served the tariff period in full.
	Release on expiry of the tariff period is not automatic. Release will take place only once this period has been served and only if the Parole Board is satisfied that it is no longer necessary, on the grounds of public protection, for the offender to remain detained in custody. As such, some life sentence prisoners remain in prison beyond their tariff as they are considered to present a risk to the public which may not be effectively managed in the community.
	Data on the shortest sentence served by a convicted murderer before release in the last 15 years are not in a readily accessible electronic format. In order to answer the question precisely, it would be necessary to retrieve and search manual files for this information. This would exceed cost limits.
	Data from 2010 are available in a suitable format. The shortest time served by a person convicted of murder is 3.6 years. The tariff of just under three years was set because of the special circumstances of the offence, where the offender pleaded guilty to what might be described as assisted suicide.
	On 26 April 2012, the Ministry of Justice published Offender Management Statistics quarterly bulletin for October-December 2011, see:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/oms-quarterly/oms-quarterly-editions
	This included data on the average time spent in custody for mandatory life sentence prisoners. These data are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Average time served for persons convicted of murder (years) 
			 2001 13 
			 2002 14 
			 2003 15 
			 2004 14 
			 2005 14 
			 2006 14 
			 2007 16 
			 2008 16 
			 2009 17 
			 2010 16 
			 2011 16 
		
	
	Data on the number of people who have been murdered by those on life licence for murder is not in a readily accessible electronic format for the last 15 years. However, data are available since 2007. Since then, eight people have been murdered by seven offenders on life licence.

Prisoners: Domestic Violence

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what support his Department provides to (a) male and (b) female inmates who have experienced domestic violence.

Helen Grant: The Government is committed to supporting all victims of domestic and sexual violence and abuse.
	Disclosure of information about domestic violence can be extremely difficult and traumatic for the individual, and we aim to provide support and help to all prisoners who need it as part of the rehabilitation services offered in custody. Some ways in which prisons achieve this include ensuring that staff create an environment where offenders:
	feel able to disclose in confidence
	always receive a sensitive and professional response
	have access to appropriate and relevant information
	are referred to appropriate services if required.
	Governors can also commission and/or deliver specific services or activities that support individuals who have experienced domestic violence, rape or abuse.

Prisoners: Per Capita Costs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) cost per prisoner and (b) cost per place in each prison was in 2011-12.

Helen Grant: As part of the Government's Transparency Agenda, the Department publishes full details of outturn expenditure and average cost per prisoner and cost per place for each private and public sector prison in England and Wales after the end of the financial year. The information for financial year 2011-12 is due to be published as an addendum to the NOMS annual report and accounts on 25 October 2012 and will be available on the Department's website at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/prison-probation-performance-info
	A copy will also be placed in the House Library.

Prisons: Private Sector

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons the National Offender Management Service decided not to impose financial penalties on private prisons on each occasion such penalties were found to be applicable in the last five years; and how much revenue was forgone in each such year.

Helen Grant: Performance points are accrued on the occurrence of a custodial service failure which are recorded on a quarterly and annual basis in each contract. Charges are then applied when these total points exceed the relevant performance baseline. Under certain circumstances these charges maybe waived, for example on the basis that the failure could be in part or direct result of an authority/NOMS default.
	Information providing a site by site breakdown of charges and reasons related for any mitigation are not routinely collated centrally. Furthermore prior to May 2010 under the previous NOMS structure of regional directors of offender managers (DOMS), decisions on the application or mitigation of points were handled regionally. Therefore the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, NOMS finance team have recently been working on identifying and collating information with regards to the number of points applied (less any credit/baseline deductions) and the associated charge to the contractor. See following table for a summary for 2010-11 and 2011-12;
	
		
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 Prison Points Estimated charge (£) Points Estimated charge (£) 
			 Altcourse 433 130,000 0 0 
			 Ashfield 140 16,000 130 14,000 
			 Birmingham n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Bronzefield 193 70,000 88 20,000 
			 Doncaster n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Dovegate 0 0 0 0 
			 Forest Bank 0 0 0 0 
			 Lowdham Grange 0 0 152 20,000 
			 Oakwood n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Parc 0 0 0 0 
			 Peterborough 0 0 147 23,000 
			 Rye Hill 747 109,000 1,082 165,000 
			 Thameside n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Wolds 68 5,000 19 1,000

Probation

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget is for the Probation Service in financial year (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.

Helen Grant: The overall budget allocated to Probation Trusts in 2011-12 was £820 million, and for 2012-13 is £814 million. Figures are rounded to the nearest £million. These amounts reflect the total of the contract values agreed with each Probation Trust at the beginning of the financial year. It should be noted that, in addition to these amounts, some funds are held centrally for specific offender related initiatives. These are not embedded in the budget and contract values and therefore excluded from the figures given. Allocated budget amounts may vary throughout the financial year. Probation Trusts may also receive income from elsewhere.
	The Department has not set Probation Trust budgets for 2013-14. Budgets will be set as part of the Department's regular annual budget allocation process. Allocations will be made on the basis of need and according to departmental priorities.

Probation: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 410W, on probation: Essex, what estimate his Department made of the potential cost to the public purse of answering question 107556 in full; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: Further to the answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 410W, on probation: Essex, the Ministry of Justice does not hold the other information requested. To answer the question in full all 35 probation trusts would have had to collate 10 years’ worth of complaint correspondence, much of which may be in hard copy rather than electronic format.
	Following collation, this information would need to be compared with local population data for each probation area over the last 10 years. Some of that information is not available in a readily-accessible format.
	It is difficult to form an accurate estimate of the total cost of such an exercise; however, it clearly exceeds the disproportionate cost threshold.

Redundancy

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to page 19 of his Department's Business Plan 2012-15, published on 31 May 2012, what estimate his Department has made of the redundancy costs for the planned reduction in workforce in the current spending review period.

Helen Grant: The Department's spending review 2010 implementation requires headcount reduction by 2014-15 through a combination of natural wastage, recruitment freezes and staff exits. We have made good progress so far through strict recruitment controls and restructuring of HQ and across our agencies. The total cost of exit packages in 2011-12 was £133.8 million of which £1.1 million was spent on compulsory redundancies. This information is published on page 106 of the Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12. Please refer to the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporate-reports/moj/2012/ministry-of-justice-annual-report-and-accounts-2011-12
	Reductions have been achieved through voluntary early departure schemes and redeployment where appropriate. There remains a need to continue making reductions throughout the spending review, as these are developed locally consideration will be given as to whether the reductions can be achieved through natural staff turnover and recruitment controls, where this is not possible further exit schemes may be appropriate.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what definition his Department uses for (a) reprimand, (b) severe reprimand and (c) demotion under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 where these are handed down as punishments following a military summary hearing; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA) does not define the terms 'reprimand', 'severe reprimand' and 'demotion'. These terms originate in the relevant Armed Forces legislation. The Armed Forces Act 2006 governs how these disposals are treated under the ROA.
	Where there is doubt over whether a particular disposal falls under a provision of the ROA then determination of this is a matter for the courts. Under current legislation where a disposal is not otherwise dealt within the ROA, then it falls to be considered under the last entry of Table A in section 5(2) which imposes a rehabilitation period of five years.

Victims' Commissioner

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget was for the Office of Victims Commissioner in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; and how much of that budget was spent in each such year.

Helen Grant: The budget and expenditure is set out in the table. There was no Victims' Commissioner in post in 2009-10; in 2011-12 the Office ceased to operate from the end of October 2011 following Louise Casey's resignation,
	
		
			 £ 
			  Budget Expenditure 
			 2009-10 0 0 
			 2010-11 950,000 939,000 
			 2011-12 1,200,000 585,000 
			 2012-13 0 0 
		
	
	Although no formal budget has been allocated to the Office of the Victims Commissioner for 2012-13, the Commissioner will be adequately funded from existing departmental funds once an appointment has been made.

Business: Cannock Chase

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to support businesses in Cannock Chase constituency.

Michael Fallon: We want to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and for the next decade to be the most entrepreneurial and dynamic in Britain's history. That is why, in January, the Prime Minister launched “Business in You”, a major campaign, to inspire people to realise their business ambitions and to highlight the range of support available for start-ups and growing businesses.
	We have introduced a range of measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK:
	Ensuring SMEs can access the support and advice they need to start and grow
	We have changed the way that we help people access the information, guidance and advice they need to start and grow a business. We have put in place a range of services including;
	www.gov.uk is the new home for Government services and information online, www.gov.uk has been built to make it simpler, clearer and faster for people to find what they need from Government. To help those that cannot use internet service, we will continue to offer support through the Business Link helpline (on 0845 6009006).
	A mentoring portal www.mentorsme.co.uk providing an easy route to find experienced business mentors.
	A new three year “GrowthAccelerator” programme which will provide high quality coaching support for up to 26,000 SMEs with high growth potential.
	Ensuring SMEs can access the finance they need
	In July, the Government and Bank of England launched the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS), which allows banks and building societies to borrow at cheaper rates from the Bank of England for periods of up to four years. The FLS creates strong incentives for banks to increase lending to UK households and businesses by lowering interest rates and increasing access to credit.
	Launched a new £10 million Start-Up Loan Scheme aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds.
	Increased the funds available to invest through the Business Finance Partnership (BFP) to £1.2 billion. Government will allocate £100 million of the BFP to invest through non-traditional lending channels that can reach smaller businesses.
	Continuation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme until 2014/15, providing, subject to demand, over£2 billion of additional lending.
	Announced a new £50 million Business Angel Co-Investment Fund to encourage Business Angel investment.
	Continuation of the Government's Enterprise Capital Funds programme, increasing our commitment by £200 million, providing for more than £300 million of venture capital investment to address the equity gap for early stage innovative SMEs.
	Welcomed the report of the industry review of non-bank lending chaired by Tim Breedon and will take forward its recommendations, including encouraging prompt payment by larger firms.
	A £2.4 billion Regional Growth Fund operating across England from 2011 to 2015 which supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment creating economic growth and sustainable employment.
	Ensuring that regulation supports business growth
	Introduced a 'one-in, one-out' rule whereby no new regulations which impose costs on businesses can be brought in without regulation of an equivalent value being removed.
	In April 2011 the Government introduced a three-year moratorium on new domestic regulation affecting micro businesses and genuine start-ups.
	The Red Tape Challenge is tackling the stock of regulation via a comprehensive thematic review which aims to identify regulations that could be removed, simplified or done in a different way.
	Addressing the way in which regulation is enforced at the front line through a series of sector-based reviews of enforcement to examine whether national and local regulatory enforcement was being undertaken and placing the minimum necessary burden on business.
	To reduce barriers to businesses taking on new staff Government has announced significant deregulation of employment law, including increasing the unfair dismissal qualifying period from one to two years from 6 April 2012.
	Encouraging exporting SMEs
	Government will spend £35 million to double, from 25,000 to 50,000, the number of SMEs that UKTI supports a year by 2015. Many components of the UKTI product are aimed at SMEs:
	Passport to Export is a trade development programme offering new and inexperienced exporters help and support to build the capability to start exporting proactively and make their first visit to an export market. Launched in 2001, it has helped around 14,000 SMEs as of January 2012.
	Gateway to Global Growth offers experienced SME exporters the opportunity to increase their exporting skills and awareness of what is on offer from UKTI and private sector suppliers. The aim is to help them enter more difficult markets or expand in existing ones.
	Market Visit Support provides assistance to new to export and/or new to market SMEs visiting overseas markets, individually or in groups as part of their trade development process.
	Budget 2012 set out an ambition to more than double annual UK exports to £1 trillion by 2020 through additional measures including expanding the overseas role of UK Export Finance to enable it to develop finance packages that could help UK exporters secure opportunities identified through UK Trade & Investment's High Value Opportunities programme.
	Local Business Support
	The “Local Growth” White Paper set out Government's vision for a localised approach to rebalancing the economy, with key private and public sector partners coming together to drive growth and create employment across functional economic areas. Since then, 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) across England have formed and are now working to ensure that local economies can support existing businesses, enterprise and long-term growth. Cannock Chase benefits from being part of two LEP areas; Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP and Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire LEP. Both have set up specific services to support business development in their areas. For example, businesses in Cannock Chase can benefit from a dedicated helpline set up by the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire LEP (0300 111 8002), who have also responded to significant demand by holding a series of well attended ‘Access to Finance’ events. The “Business Hub”, led by Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP provides another useful source of support to local SMEs and larger organisations in the area
	http://centreofenterprise.com/

Business: Government Assistance

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with major lenders on loans to young entrepreneurs, particularly those who are not in education, employment or training to establish credit for new, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Michael Fallon: Ministers hold regular discussions with lenders about how this scheme, and other lending programmes, can be best utilised by the major banks, to support businesses including start-ups.
	The Government is engaged in the pilot of a major programme to support young entrepreneurs, regardless of background, in accessing start-up finance where access to traditional lending is limited. This programme has an allocation of £10 million for the remainder of this year, with a further £30 million and £42 million earmarked for future years.
	This programme is being delivered by a new company under the leadership of James Caan which, in turn, is working with delivery partners. These partners include CDFIs, Banks and other lenders and the Company is in discussions across the credit market to ensure lending capacity is in place.
	As well as Start-Up Loans, Government has the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme in place, to support lending to businesses without sufficient track-record or collateral.

Business: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to support small and medium-sized businesses in Pendle constituency.

Michael Fallon: We want to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and for the next decade to be the most entrepreneurial and dynamic in Britain's history. That is why, in January, the Prime Minister launched ‘Business in You’, a major campaign, to inspire people to realise their business ambitions and to highlight the range of support available for start-ups and growing businesses.
	We have introduced a range of measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK:
	Ensuring SMES can access the support and advice they need to start and grow
	We have changed the way that we help people access the information, guidance and advice they need to start and grow a business. We have put in place a range of services including:
	All Government support and advice available on
	www.businesslink.gov.uk
	Later this month, we will transfer this to a new website:
	www.gov.uk
	which will provide users with simpler information that is easier and faster to access. To help those that cannot use internet service, we will continue to offer support through the Business Link helpline on 0845 600 9006.
	A mentoring portal www.mentorsme.co.uk providing an easy route to find experienced business mentors.
	A new three year Growth Accelerator programme which will provide high quality coaching support for up to 26,000 SMEs with high growth potential.
	Ensuring businesses can access the finance they need
	In July, the Government and Bank of England launched the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS), which allows banks and building societies to borrow at cheaper rates from the Bank of England for periods of up to four years. The FLS creates strong incentives for banks to increase lending to UK households and businesses by lowering interest rates and increasing access to credit.
	Launched a new £10 million Start-Up Loan Scheme aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds.
	Increased the funds available to invest through the Business Finance Partnership (BFP) to £1.2 billion. Government will allocate £100 million of the BFP to invest through non-traditional lending channels that can reach smaller businesses.
	Continuation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme until 2014/15, providing, subject to demand, over£2 billion of additional lending.
	Announced a new £50 million Business Angel Co-Investment Fund to encourage Business Angel investment.
	Continuation of the Government's Enterprise Capital Funds programme, increasing our commitment by £200 million, providing for more than £300 million of venture capital investment to address the equity gap for early stage innovative SMEs.
	Welcomed the report of the industry review of non-bank lending chaired by Tim Breedon and will take forward its recommendations, including encouraging prompt payment by larger firms.
	A £2.4 billion Regional Growth Fund operating across England from 2011 to 2015 which supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment creating economic growth and sustainable employment.
	Ensuring that regulation supports business growth
	Introduced a ‘one-in, one-out’ rule whereby no new regulations which impose costs on businesses can be brought in without regulation of an equivalent value being removed.
	In April 2011 the Government introduced a three-year moratorium on new domestic regulation affecting micro businesses and genuine start-ups.
	The Red Tape Challenge is tackling the stock of regulation via a comprehensive thematic review which aims to identify regulations that could be removed, simplified or done in a different way.
	Addressing the way in which regulation is enforced at the front line through a series of sector-based reviews of enforcement to examine whether national and local regulatory enforcement was being undertaken and placing the minimum necessary burden on business.
	To reduce barriers to businesses taking on new staff Government has announced significant deregulation of employment law, including increasing the unfair dismissal qualifying period from one to two years from 6 April 2012.
	Encouraging exporting SMEs
	Government will spend £35 million to double, from 25,000 to 50,000, the number of SMEs that UKTI supports a year by 2015. Many components of the UKTI product are aimed at SMEs:
	Passport to Export is a trade development programme offering new and inexperienced exporters help and support to build the capability to start exporting proactively and make their first visit to an export market. Launched in 2001, it has helped around 14,000 SMEs as of January 2012.
	Gateway to Global Growth offers experienced SME exporters the opportunity to increase their exporting skills and awareness of what is on offer from UKTI and private sector suppliers. The aim is to help them enter more difficult markets or expand in existing ones.
	Market Visit Support provides assistance to new to export and/or new to market SMEs visiting overseas markets, individually or in groups as part of their trade development process.
	Budget 2012 set out an ambition to more than double annual UK exports to £1 trillion by 2020 through additional measures including expanding the overseas role of UK Export Finance to enable it to develop finance packages that could help UK exporters secure opportunities identified through UK Trade and Investment's High Value Opportunities programme.
	Local Business Support
	Regenerate Pennine Lancashire (REGEN) is using £7.5 million regional growth fund funding to help SME's create 3,000 jobs within an array of industries across Lancashire. They are calling the programme the Accelerating Business Growth programme which is a competitive grant scheme that helps fund business growth projects across Lancashire including Pendle. Currently 100 companies in Lancashire have expressed an interest in the programme. The current figures for Pendle are:
	11 Expressions of Interest, seven successful at EOI stage and progressed to Full Application, one awaiting assessment.
	12% of all Expressions of Interest come from Pendle companies.
	Lancashire Business Hub has been created to ensure that businesses across Lancashire have access to the full range of national and local support. Co-ordinated by the LEP who act as the accountable body, the Growth Hub offers access to funding, mentoring and other business advice.

Business: Staffordshire

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase the level of access to credit for businesses in (a) Cannock Chase constituency and (b) Staffordshire in each of the last two years.

Michael Fallon: The Government have a range of schemes in place to support small businesses access credit across the country, such as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) and the Funding for Lending scheme launched by the Bank of England in July. To deliver value for money and ease of access for business they are predominantly delivered at a national level.
	Since the launch of Enterprise Finance Guarantee, 32 EFG-backed loans worth £2.66 million have been utilised by companies in Cannock Chase, and 313 loans worth over £30 million by companies in Staffordshire.
	In addition, the Black Country Reinvestment Society (Community Development Finance Institution) has been accredited to provide EFG loans to viable businesses based in Staffordshire.
	British Bankers Association (BBA) data shows that £412 million of new loans were extended to small and medium sized businesses in the first quarter of this year, the latest period for which figures are available.
	BBA data shows that £412 million of new loans were extended to small and medium sized businesses in the first quarter of this year, the latest period for which figures are available.

Construction: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to support the construction industry in Pendle constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The Government is actively working to help all construction firms including those in Pendle.
	Returning the UK to sustainable and balanced growth is a key priority for the Government and construction has a central role to play in this. Working closely with the construction industry, we are therefore:
	Removing barriers to growth by tackling the planning system, the burden of regulation and access to finance. The Government is also looking at a number of other issues which may constrain the industry's ability to respond to future growth such as a lack of skills.
	Stimulating infrastructure development and improvement. The National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) sets out the overarching view of our forthcoming infrastructure needs. It contains major spending commitments to improve our transport and broadband networks as well as steps to attract major new private sector investment. It has identified a pipeline of over 500 projects, including the top 40 priority infrastructure investments that are critical for growth.
	Ensuring Government plays a full role as a key customer of the industry. The public sector accounts for about 30% of the construction industry's output.
	Looking for new opportunities and identifying how they can best be exploited including; realising the opportunities of the developing green economy, overseas markets and more effective use of ICT through Building Information Management (BIM).
	Stimulating the house building industry. We are committed to seeing a major increase in the supply of new homes where they are needed and wanted. Our housing strategy, ‘Laying the Foundations—A Housing Strategy for England’, published last November, announced an ambitious package of measures to increase significantly the supply of affordable homes. This includes £1.34 billion to support developers and local partners in investing in new homes and infrastructure through the £570 million Get Britain Building investment fund which will unlock stalled housing sites and enable the building of up to 16,000 new homes and the £770 million Growing Places Fund which is allowing local enterprise partnerships to invest in infrastructure that will help to create new homes and jobs.
	On 6 September we announced a further major housing and planning package which includes £780 million to unlock 70,000 new homes and create 140,000 new jobs plus a £10 billion guarantee to support investment in new homes.

Construction: Sunderland

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to support the construction industry in Sunderland.

Michael Fallon: The Government is actively working to help construction firms including those in Sunderland.
	Returning the UK to sustainable and balanced growth is a key priority for the Government and construction has a central role to play in this. Working closely with the construction industry, we are therefore:
	Removing barriers to growth—by tackling the planning system, the burden of regulation and access to finance. The Government is also looking at a number of other issues which may constrain the industry's ability to respond to future growth such as a lack of skills.
	Stimulating infrastructure development and improvement—The National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) sets out the overarching view of our forthcoming infrastructure needs. It contains major spending commitments to improve our transport and broadband networks as well as steps to attract major new private sector investment. It has identified a pipeline of over 500 projects, including the top 40 priority infrastructure investments that are critical for growth.
	Ensuring Government plays a full role as a key customer of the industry—The Public Sector accounts for about 30% of the construction industry's output.
	Looking for new opportunities and identifying how they can best be exploited including; realising the opportunities of the developing green economy, overseas markets and more effective use of ICT through Building Information Management (BIM).
	Stimulating the house building industry—We are committed to seeing a major increase in the supply of new homes where they are needed and wanted. Our Housing Strategy, 'Laying the Foundations - A Housing Strategy for England', published last November, announced an ambitious package of measures to increase significantly the supply of affordable homes.
	This includes £1.34 billion to support developers and local partners in investing in new homes and infrastructure through the £570 million Get Britain Building investment fund which will unlock stalled housing sites and enable the building of up to 16,000 new homes and the £770 million Growing Places Fund which is allowing Local Enterprise Partnerships to invest in infrastructure that will help to create new homes and jobs. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership, which covers Sunderland, has been allocated £25 million from the Growing Places Fund.
	On 6 September we announced a further major housing and planning package which includes £780 million to unlock 70,000 new homes and create 140,000 new jobs plus a £10 billion guarantee to support investment in new homes.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK-based students entered university courses in each academic year since 2006 in (a) the west midlands and (b) England.

David Willetts: holding answer 17 October 2012
	The latest available information on UK domiciled entrants to (a) west midlands (region) and (b) English higher education Institutions is shown in the following table for the academic years 2006/07 to 2010/11. Information for the 2011/12 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2013.
	
		
			 UK-domiciled -entrants (2)  by level of study English higher education institutions academic years 2006/07 to 2010/11 
			  All English HEIs West midlands HEIs 
			 Academic year Postgraduate Undergraduate Total Postgraduate Undergraduate Total 
			 2006/07 152,330 579,435 731,765 12,895 53,270 66,165 
			 2007/08 149,795 590,805 740,600 12,550 56,840 69,390 
			 2008/09 164,695 628.915 793,610 13,470 57,730 71,200 
			 2009/10 176,675 635,935 812,610 14,445 61,275 75,720 
			 2010/11 171,210 599,130 770,340 15,105 61,325 76,430 
			 (1) Domicile refers to a student's permanent or home address prior to entry to their course. (2) Covers students in their first year of study. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record.

Loans: Interest Charges

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of marketing techniques employed by providers of very high interest loans.

Jo Swinson: The Office of Fair Trading's (OFT) review of high cost credit in 2009/10 assessed the provision of very high interest loans and the Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency Review (CCPIR) in 2010/11 subsequently sought views on OFTs recommendations. In launching the CCPIR call for evidence, the Government was particularly concerned about the way in which some forms of credit were marketed. The Government's response in November 2011 made clear that we recognised the widespread concerns about the high cost credit market and, as a result, we have been taking forward a number of legislative and non-legislative interventions, including:
	Agreement with the payday lending trade bodies to improve their codes of practice to deliver enhanced consumer protections and increased transparency;
	The OFTs investigations into regulatory compliance by the payday lending industry and into lenders' misuse of Continuous Payment Authority when recovering loan repayment;
	Announcement to give the OFT the power to suspend consumer credit licences with immediate effect where there is evidence of serious consumer detriment;
	Research commissioned from the University of Bristol Personal Finance Research Centre to assess the impact of a total cost of credit cap in the high cost credit market, which will help inform our policy thinking in this area; and
	A further investment of £38 million announced by the Department of Work and Pensions to expand the credit union network and therefore improve access to credit union loans which can provide a real alternative to high cost credit.

London Metropolitan University

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of recent events concerning London Metropolitan University; and whether his Department expects this to affect future applications from international students.

David Willetts: The Government's priority was to ensure legitimate overseas students affected by the decision to revoke London Metropolitan University's highly trusted status were given the support required to continue their studies.
	The Government established a taskforce, led by the Higher Education Council for England (HEFCE) to work with London Metropolitan University to support appropriately qualified legitimate students to find another institution to continue their studies in the UK. The Government also created an emergency fund of up to £2 million to allow affected students to claim back fees for reapplying for visas and discretionary payments to cover, for example, lost deposits on accommodation due to having to move somewhere else to study. Following the recent decision of the High Court, legitimate non-EU students are able to remain at London Metropolitan University until their course has ended or the end of the academic year, whichever is sooner.
	Our universities are among the best in the world and remain a top class destination for international students. It is too early to say what impact, if any, the revocation decision might have on future applications. Education exports are a key part of our new industrial strategy.

London Metropolitan University

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 518W, on London Metropolitan University, whether he has received a detailed assessment from (a) the Higher Education Funding Council for England or (b) London Metropolitan University on the financial implications for London Metropolitan University of losing its Highly Trusted Sponsor status and its Tier 4 sponsor licence.

David Willetts: It is still too early to assess the detailed financial impact of the UK Border Agency revocation. The recent High Court ruling has allowed a significant number of students the opportunity to continue their studies at London Metropolitan University until the end of their courses or the end of the academic year, whichever is the sooner. All students have been offered the opportunity and support to transfer to another institution. We will not know, until later in the recruitment cycle, how many chose to do what.
	The university is developing detailed financial plans for 2012-13 and beyond. These plans will be shared with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) when it is feasible to assess the overall financial impact on the institution. HEFCE continues to monitor the short and medium term sustainability of the institution and has been provided with assurances that there are no immediate concerns.

Manufacturing Advice Service

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills since the launch of the Manufacturing Advice Service (MAS) in January 2012, how many jobs have been (a) created and (b) safeguarded as a result; and what assessment he has made of MAS's contribution to economic growth.

Michael Fallon: 755 business improvement consultancy projects have been completed between the launch of the new national Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in January and 30 September 2012. The businesses receiving this support have forecast that up to 2,571 jobs could be created 7,270 safeguarded and £234.19 million generated in economic growth (Gross Value Added) within 12 months following the intervention. The job creation figures will be verified by MAS next year and an evaluation will be undertaken to assess the additionality of MAS support.

New Businesses

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of business start-ups in each constituent part of the UK since May 2012.

Michael Fallon: The latest available official data on the number of business start-ups in the constituent parts of the UK relates to 2010 see:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/2010/index.html
	Data for 2011 will be published by the Office for National Statistics in December 2012.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the National Audit Office report, Central Government's implementation of the national Compact.

Jo Swinson: holding answer 13 September 2012
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) views the Compact with great importance and is committed to implementing the NAO's recommendations.
	To this end BIS works closely with the Third Sector and maintains regular consultative dialogue with the Third Sector National Learning Alliance (TSNLA) to ensure that Third Sector interests are taken into account appropriately and systematically.
	Earlier 2012 BIS commissioned research from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) to identify what barriers stand in the way of achieving Government's ambitions for the Third Sector. This research will culminate in November 2012 in implementation strategies for the sector and support bodies to take forward.
	Supported by TSNLA, LSIS works closely with the Third Sector to enable access to their services by Third Sector providers. In June 2012 the NIACE grant letter 2012-13 was updated to include a commitment to supporting the Third Sector achieve its potential in the delivery of learning and skills.
	In the consumer-focused voluntary sector, BIS sponsors both Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland—the umbrella bodies for the Citizens Advice service across England and Wales and in Scotland. BIS provides core grant in aid funding to both charities under schedule 274 of the Enterprise Act. This funding enables the two bodies to provide essential central services to their customers namely the network of Citizens Advice Bureaux. In return, the services also to provide central Government with real time data on the issues facing the public on a wide number of social policy issues.

UK Research Partnership Investment Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many bids he has received to the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund to date; how many have been unsuccessful; and from what region each successful and unsuccessful bid came;
	(2)  by what date he expects successful bidders to receive allocated funds under the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund; and what deadline he has set in relation to that process;
	(3)  on what date Higher Education Funding Council for England began carrying out due diligence on bids taken forward under the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund;
	(4)  with reference to his announcement that bidding for funds under the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund has re-opened, when bidding is expected to close.

David Willetts: holding answer 18 October 2012
	In October, the Government announced additional funding of £200 million for the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), to add to £100 million provided in Budget 2012, to enable universities to lever in private sector and charity co-investment into long-term strategic research partnerships. This will further enhance the facilities for world class university research and help build strategic partnerships between universities, businesses and charities across the UK, supporting long-term economic growth.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), working with counterparts in the devolved Administrations, is responsible for managing the fund, including developing detailed arrangements for a competitive process, for project assessment and all decisions on project selection. The fund is available for large capital research projects, and will provide between £10 million and £35 million to projects which secure at least twice that amount in private or charitable co-investment. Proposals have been assessed by an independent Assessment Panel, chaired by Peter Saraga, against published criteria including value for money and the how much they build on existing strong research capability, regardless of specific geographic location.
	HEFCE issued a call for expressions of interest in the fund in May 2012 to all higher education institutions across the UK. Full details are available at
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/year/2012/201212/
	These were considered by the independent assessment panel in June, and a number were invited to submit full proposals over the summer. On receipt of the full proposals by 23 August, HEFCE initiated a process of detailed appraisal, including assessment by the assessment panel and related due diligence.
	HEFCE will announce a full list of successful projects shortly, and will include information on the number of bids received and their geographical breakdown. After reflecting further on the first bidding round, HEFCE will announce a further call for new and reworked proposals in due course. In accordance with normal HEFCE funding arrangements, successful projects will draw down their allocation from HEFCE as relevant project expenditure is incurred over the remainder of the spending review.

Vocational Training

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to promote re-skilling initiatives in the UK.

Matthew Hancock: The Government are clear that in order for the UK to compete globally, we must have a world-class skills base across all sectors. Employers and professional representative bodies are best placed to know what skills their sectors need and to deliver these to the British workforce. This demand-led model was given life by the publication of “Skills for Sustainable Growth” in November 2010. “New Challenges New Chances” published in December 2011 reaffirmed our approach and set out Government's plans for skills to 2015. We launched the Employer Ownership Pilot in November 2011 as a further step to achieving business ownership of the skills agenda. It is giving employers direct access to up to £250 million of public investment for training and apprenticeships over the next two years. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), recently announced the first successful bids from the first round of the pilot—34 bids will be supported by an expected £67 million of public investment, backed by £98 million of employer investment.
	We are continuing the important work to improve and expand Apprenticeships, particularly at Levels 3 and 4, to ensure that businesses have the skills required to compete, and that individuals have opportunities to re-skill throughout their careers. £25 million from the Higher Apprenticeship Fund has been allocated to 30 projects which will provide over 25,000 new Higher Apprenticeship places over the next three years. The new Higher Apprenticeships will be available in sectors including renewable energy, advanced engineering, insurance, space, retail and hospitality.
	To help create Apprenticeship opportunities, and to promote the programme amongst smaller employers, in April this year Government introduced incentive payments of £1,500 for smaller employers who take on young apprentices aged 16-24. The total number of incentive places available in 2012/13 is 40,000.

Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2012

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the reason was for the time taken for the entry into force of the Electricity and Gas (Energy Company Obligation) Order 2012.

Gregory Barker: A technical issue came to light over the summer around the application of “in-use factors” in ECO. In-use factors adjust the carbon scores for each energy efficiency measure to reflect its likely real-world, rather than theoretical, performance.
	In modelling the expected outputs for ECO, and setting the proposed legal targets for the scheme, the inclusion of "in-use" factors was assumed. However, the secondary legislation giving effect to the Green Deal and ECO policies did not in every relevant instance incorporate the provisions necessary to ensure that in use factors are applied.
	As this would have created uncertainty for parties such as those who are obligated under the scheme, DECC launched a short consultation on 30 August with a view to correcting this anomaly and providing the clarity that is needed. This consultation has now closed and DECC proposes to bring a revised Order back to the House at the earliest opportunity, with a view to its coming into force by 1 January 2013.
	We do not expect this to make much, if any, practical difference to delivery on the ground. Households will continue to benefit from energy efficiency and heating measures delivered under existing schemes such as Warm Front and CERT and we intend to include a provision in the amended Order that will allow energy companies to carry forward ECO activity delivered from 1 October and score it against their ECO targets.

E-mail

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what guidance his Department has issued to (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers on the use of personal emails for official departmental business.

Gregory Barker: Ministers, SPADs and DECC officials are all informed on appointment that non-DECC e-mail accounts should not be used for official departmental business. Ministers also have a personal DECC account which is separate from their shared office mailbox and allows them to communicate by. Blackberry. Guidance has been issued for their use.

Energy: Storage

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what support his Department provides to projects for liquid air energy storage.

Gregory Barker: On 19 October 2012, DECC launched two new innovation support competitions for energy storage research and development. Both competitions (outlined as follows) are open to any type of energy storage technology—including liquid air energy storage—which could address grid-scale storage and balancing needs in the UK electricity transmission or distribution networks.
	DECC's energy storage competitions have been launched in recognition of the potential role for energy storage in enabling low carbon technologies and supporting security of supply, as highlighted in the Electricity Network and Storage Technology Innovation Needs Assessment summary report published recently by the Low Carbon Innovation Co-ordination Group (LCICG).
	The Energy Storage Technology Demonstration Competition, with a budget of up to £17 million, will offer organisations the opportunity to secure contracts to develop and demonstrate pre-commercial innovative energy storage technologies which can address grid-scale storage needs for the UK electricity network in the run up to 2020 and beyond.
	DECC's Energy Storage Component Research and Feasibility Study Competition, with a budget of up to £3 million, will offer grant funding, on a competitive basis, to develop components or materials used for energy storage systems or to develop feasibility studies to further explore how storage systems work and how they can be used in the UK electricity network.
	Further details of the DECC energy storage competitions, including the key dates and eligibility and selection criteria, can be found at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/funding/funding_ops/innovation/innov_fund/storage/storage.aspx

Heating: Renewable Energy

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department is developing guidance on the EU draft directive requiring all towns to have a heat plan by the end of 2013 to cover utilisation of waste heat.

Gregory Barker: Article 14 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive requires member states to conduct a detailed assessment of the national potential for district heating and cooling, including mapping heating and cooling demand and supply points by 31 December 2015. This Article also requires that, when authorising new or substantially refurbished installations, member states shall, ensure that a cost benefit assessment is conducted considering the case for recovering industrial waste heat for use in district heating. The directive does not require individual towns to develop heat plans and will not start to take effect until 2014.
	As the directive has not yet been published our plans for its transposition are at an early stage. Transposition of the cost benefit assessment requirements appears to lend itself best to implementation via the Environmental Permitting regime, which would be likely to include development of guidance for applicants for permits. The Government envisages consulting on transposing regulations and draft guidance in mid 2013.
	DECC published “The Future of Heating: A strategic framework for low carbon heat in the UK” in March 2012:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/heat/4805-future-heating-strategic-framework.pdf
	Alongside this, the Department published a national heat map which maps heat demand in industry and public, commercial and residential buildings, as well as indicating the location of powerplant and combined heat and power schemes as potential sources of heat:
	http://ceo.decc.gov.uk/nationalheatmap/
	We are now developing a heat policy publication for March 2013, building on this earlier work. This will cover the utilisation of waste heat and optimal levels of district heating in the UK.

Low Carbon Networks Fund

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the source of funding for the Low Carbon Networks Fund is.

Gregory Barker: The majority of funding for the Low Carbon Network Fund is secured through Distribution Use of System charges which form part of consumer energy bills.

Bus Services: Rural Areas

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the provision of rural bus services; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: Statistics on the levels of bus services in all areas of England are available on the Department for Transport's website at
	www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/series/buses/
	Outside London, the provision of bus and community transport services in any area is a matter for commercial operators and for local authorities.
	However, it has long been clear that for some isolated communities traditional public transport is not a cost effective option. In such circumstances, the Government supports, where achievable, the establishment of community bus services or other more flexible forms of transport.
	In recognition of the important role they play in delivering local services, I have provided a total of £20 million across two rounds of our Supporting Community Transport Fund between 2010-11 and 2011-12. This funding has been distributed to 76 local transport authorities (councils and passenger transport executives) to support the establishment and development of more community transport links to employment and services in rural areas.

Great Western Main Line

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of demand for direct non-stop services between Cardiff and London Paddington following completed electrification of the Great Western Mainline; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Government has not made any assessment of demand for non-stop services between Cardiff and London Paddington.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions representatives of the Government have had with overseas investors on the potential funding of the HS2 project; and which such investors have been approached about such funding.

Simon Burns: UK Infrastructure is attractive to potential investors, and therefore it is to be expected that the Government would receive inquiries about future opportunities during other routine discussions. My Department has made clear that we will explore the scope for third party funding and financing, but we are not currently at a stage in the process where we would seek to take forward detailed discussions with potential investors.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the likely carbon emission reductions arising from the introduction of the renewable transport fuel obligation.

Norman Baker: The renewable transport fuels obligation (RTFO) has been in operation since April 2008 and the RTFO Administrator reports, among other things, on the performance of biofuels supplied in the UK in respect of annual greenhouse gas emissions savings. Statistics are available via the Department for Transport's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/series/biofuels
	Verified data for obligation years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 suggest that 46%, 51% and 57% greenhouse gas savings compared to fossil fuels were achieved respectively in those obligation years. Unverified data for obligation year 2011-12 suggest that 62% greenhouse gas savings would be achieved in respect of fuel reported to the RTFO Administrator between April and December 2011. These figures exclude emissions from indirect land use changes. Verified data for obligation year 2011-12 will be available in due course.

Rescue Services: Scotland

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment has been made in equipment at Shetland Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre and Aberdeen Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre following the closure of Forth Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

Stephen Hammond: There has been no requirement to change equipment at either of these MRCCs; HM Coastguard is utilising existing 'Quadrant' technology.
	However the connectivity of remote radio sites from Aberdeen into Shetland will be altered in order to better balance the radio resources between these two centres. Additionally one Automated Identification System terminal, used for Vessel Traffic Monitoring (VTM) is being migrated to Shetland from Forth MRCC to provide enhanced operational resilience.

Roads: Accidents

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to address the growth in road casualties in the most recent quarter.

Stephen Hammond: In the most recent reported quarter (January to March 2012) there were 420 people killed in reported road accidents, 6% less than the first quarter of 2011. Overall estimated total number of casualties fell by 2% despite numbers of killed or seriously injured casualties rising by 3%.
	Since the publication of the “Strategic Framework for Road Safety” in May 2011, the Department has taken a number of the steps to reduce the number of road casualties, as envisaged in the framework. They include steps on all three of the thematic chapters of the framework.
	Firstly on ‘improving road safety together’, the road safety comparison site, road safety observatory, speed limit assessment tool and a revised speed limit circular are all well advanced and on track for completion during the next few months.
	Secondly on ‘education’ we have already made changes to the driving tests and changes to the educational scheme for drink drive offenders are progressing towards implementation.
	Thirdly on ‘targeted enforcement and sanctions’, we have consulted about the introduction of fixed penalty notices for careless driving and increased penalty fines. The bill containing enabling legislation to create a new specific drug driving offence is being considered in the House of Lords.
	The Department will continue with implementation of these and other measures as set out in the strategic framework. Updates on this can be viewed here:
	http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/strategic-framework-for-road-safety/action-plan-update.pdf

Roads: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents occurred due to (a) motorists and (b) cyclists failing to stop at red traffic lights in Barnsley Central constituency in the last two years for which figures are available.

Stephen Hammond: The data on factors contributing to road accidents are not broken down below regional level since the number of accidents can often be small and therefore it may be possible to identify the individuals involved in an accident.
	However, the numbers of personal injury road accidents in the Yorkshire and the Humber region where "disobeyed automatic traffic signal" was a contributory factor for (a) motor vehicles and (b) cyclists in the years 2010 and 2011 are as follows:
	
		
			  Motor vehicles Cyclists 
			 2010 149 10 
			 2011 144 4

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what process is in place for approving the Highways Agency's strategic plan; and what process is in place to ensure that new schemes are included in the strategic plan.

Stephen Hammond: The current Highways Agency (HA)'s Strategic Plan sets out its vision and goals for the years 2010 to 2015. Details of the HA's activities, business context, budgets, performance measures, and major schemes, are included in its annual Business Plan, which is approved by the Secretary of State. The 2012-13 Business Plan sets out major road schemes in the approved programme—including those announced at the 29 November 2011 Autumn Statement, Official Report, columns 799-810—and notes that the agency will announce construction dates on schemes in future years on an annual basis as part of the departmental and HA planning process.
	The Department for Transport is currently working on a long-term strategy for the strategic road network. The strategy will define the high-level process and key mechanisms for identifying long-term investment needs and priorities for the network, The Department's aim is to begin consultation on the strategy before the end of the year.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which level of officials at the Highways Agency can approve spending on roads; and at what seniority investments (a) under £100,000, (b) between £100,000 and £1 million, (c) between £1 and £10 million, (d) between £10 and £50 million, (e) between £50 and £100 million and (f) over £100 million can be made.

Stephen Hammond: The Highways Agency has the following grading structure in its organisation:
	
		
			 Grade Description 
			 PB1 Administrative assistant 
			 PB2 Administrative officer 
			 PB3 Executive officer 
			 PB4 Higher Executive officer 
			 PB5 Higher Executive officer 
			 PB6 Senior Executive officer 
			 PB7 Head of Department 
		
	
	
		
			 PB8 Divisional manager 
			 SCSI Divisional Director 
			 SCS2 Director 
			 SCS3 Chief Executive 
		
	
	The two main types of spend on roads are major projects, such as road widening, and maintenance, including renewals and enhancements. In general, projects valued at over £20 million are delivered by the Major Projects teams in the Highways Agency.
	For financial approval for Major Projects, the letting of any contract will need approval from The Chief Executive (Grade SCS3). The Chief Executive/SCS3 will also need to approve any price increases in projects.
	For financial approval for Maintenance, including renewals and enhancements, the award of work can be approved by the following:
	£0 to £0.5 million: PB7
	£0.5 million to £5 million: PB8
	£5 million to £20 million: SCS 2
	£20 million and over: SCS3.
	In addition to these financial controls all procurements are approved by a holder of procurement delegations. For all contracts over £10,000 this contractual approval would be exercised within the Procurement Division, limits vary by category of spend but generally allow approval within the Procurement management group responsible—for the largest contracts, the delegations would be exercised by the Procurement Director.

Roads: Safety

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road safety officers have been employed in the last two years.

Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport does not collect information about how many road safety officers are employed. Local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide road safety, but decisions about whether to employ road safety officers is a matter for local authorities to determine.

West Coast Railway Line

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected (a) cost and (b) revenue will be to his Department by using Directly Operated Rail to operate the West Coast Main Line in each of the next three years.

Simon Burns: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), on 15 October 2012, Official Report, column7WS, that the Department for Transport is commencing negotiations with Virgin Rail Group.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what meetings were held at Board level to consider the progress of the intercity west coast franchise competition;
	(2)  at how many meetings his Department's Board considered the intercity west coast franchise competition before it was launched; and what the date was of each such meeting;
	(3)  what formal role the Board of his Department had in supervising the procurement process in respect of the intercity west coast franchise competition.

Simon Burns: The departmental board was not responsible for approving the award of the InterCity West Coast franchise competition. The Department's governance procedures for major contract awards did not require the board to be consulted.
	Under the Department's governance arrangements, responsibility for approval of funding decisions, value for money and commercial strategy for the InterCity West Coast franchise was delegated to the board's Investment and Commercial Committee, a formal sub-committee of the board. This committee considered the franchise competition a number of times during 2011 and 2012.
	The Laidlaw Inquiry will look at the roles and responsibilities of different advisory and decision making parties, within the Department (including the board Investment and Commercial Committee), and externally, in relation to the significant technical flaws that have been discovered. The Inquiry will look at how well these parties performed their roles, and what can be learned from this about the appropriate structure for governance and assurance of major contract awards.
	I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State on 15 October 2012, Official Report, columns 46-47 and the terms of reference of the Laidlaw Inquiry which have been laid in the Library of the House.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the tender evaluation guidance document was prepared and issued prior to the receipt of the bids for the inter-city west coast franchise.

Simon Burns: Tender evaluation guidance was made available on 20 January 2012, to all bidders in advance of the deadline for submitting their respective proposals. The Department for Transport published the guidance for the inter City West Coast Franchise on its website, where this guidance can be obtained by any interested party.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the civil servants that have been suspended pending inquiries into the West Coast Main Line franchise made contributions to any aspect of his Department's HS2 project.

Simon Burns: Three officials involved in the West Coast franchise competition have been suspended by the permanent secretary. I can provide no further details about the suspensions while the full facts are established. The development of HS2 is led by a separate team within the Department, and the bulk of the analytical work to support HS2 is carried out by HS2 Ltd which is an ‘arm’s-length’ organisation, and separate from the Department for Transport. The analysis carried out by HS2 Ltd is also subject to rigorous independent quality assurance.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role WS Atkins carried out on behalf of his Department in respect of (a) devising the changes to the rail franchising policy detailed in the White Paper Reforming our Railways: Putting the Customer First, (b) devising the invitation to tender for the InterCity West Coast Franchise, (c) advising the Department on financial modelling for that franchise, (d) advising the Department on evaluation methodology for that franchise, (e) advising the Department on risk assessment for that franchise and (f) advising the Department on the development of a risk mitigation plan for that franchise.

Simon Burns: With regards to (a) devising changes to the rail franchising policy:
	WS Atkins contributed to some of the reports for the independent McNulty Rail Value for Money Study. In particular, WS Atkins were involved in reports on asset, supply chain, programme and innovation management. Beyond this, there was no other direct input from WS Atkins in formulating the command paper.
	With regards to the other activities listed in the question: WS Atkins provided technical services in support of all of these activities.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role Eversheds LLP carried out on behalf of his Department in respect of (a) devising the changes to the rail franchising policy detailed in the White Paper Reforming our Railways: Putting the Customer First, (b) devising the invitation to tender for the InterCity West Coast Franchise, (c) advising the Department on financial modelling for that franchise, (d) advising the Department on evaluation methodology for that franchise, (e) advising the Department on risk assessment for that franchise and (f) advising the Department on the development of a risk mitigation plan for that franchise.

Simon Burns: With respect to the InterCity West Coast franchise competition, Eversheds LLP were involved in providing legal services in relation to:
	(b) devising the invitation to tender for the InterCity West Coast franchise; and
	(d) advising the Department on evaluation methodology for that franchise.
	They were not involved in any of the other areas of work mentioned.

West Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the (a) Secretary of State for Transport, (b) Minister of State (Rail) and (c) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Rail) attended meetings to discuss the Intercity West Coast franchise, the design and progress of the competition, evaluation of the bids and award of that franchise (i) before and (ii) after the award of that franchise on 15 August 2012; and what the dates were of those meetings.

Simon Burns: Details of meetings that Ministers have with external stakeholders are published regularly by the Cabinet Office and can be accessed by the following link:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ministerial-transparency/
	Ministers regularly meet with officials on matters of departmental business which would include rail franchising. However, the process for awarding franchises means that after approving the Invitation To Tender, Ministers are at arm’s length from the process and are not advised of the outcome until the point at which a winner has been identified and the franchise can be awarded.

Air Passenger Duty

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what research his Department has conducted to assess the impact of air passenger duty on the economy;
	(2)  if he will consider the All Party Parliamentary Group on Aviation's inquiry into Aviation policy and air passenger duty and the recommendation that the wider effect of air passenger duty on the UK economy be reviewed.

Sajid Javid: The Government undertook an extensive consultation on air passenger duty last year. The consultation gathered views and evidence from stakeholders, which included views on the impact of APD. Over 500 responses were received from a wide range of stakeholders. The Government published its response to the consultation, including a summary of views received, on 6 December 2011.
	The Government has noted the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Aviation inquiry. Given that we recently completed a comprehensive consultation on the subject, we have no plans for further review. However, we will continue to monitor the situation.

Air Passenger Duty

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what studies have been conducted to assess the effect of the costs of air passenger duty on the UK economy; what assessment has been made of the effect of air passenger duty rates being higher than equivalent taxes in other countries on the UK economy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will follow-up the Government's 2011 review of the banding of air passenger duty with a review into the wider economic effect of the tax; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The 2011 air passenger duty (APD) consultation gathered extensive views and evidence from stakeholders, which included views on the impact of APD. Over 500 responses were received from a wide range of stakeholders. The Government published its response to the consultation, including a summary of views received, on 6 December 2011.
	Given that we recently completed a comprehensive consultation on the subject, we have no plans for further review. However, we will continue to monitor the situation.

Air Passenger Duty

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hon. Members have made representations to his Department to request an economic review of air passenger duty since June 2012.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers routinely receive a large number of representations from hon. Members on their own behalf and on behalf of their constituents. Our records are not broken down to allow-the number specifically requesting an economic review of air passenger duty (APD) to be determined.
	The Government undertook an extensive consultation on air passenger duty (APD) last year. In view of this, the Government have no plans for further review at the present time.

Apprentices

Michael Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many apprentices working in his Department are (a) paid and (b) completing a qualification as part of the apprenticeship;
	(2)  how many (a) paid apprentices and (b) paid interns are employed in his Department.

Sajid Javid: HM Treasury is actively supporting the Government apprentice scheme. Our 2012 apprentice recruitment campaign resulted in five new recruits all of whom are paid.
	Apprentices will be studying an NVQ in Business and Administration during their first 12 months. This will be supported by an apprentice training provider, on the job training and a range of learning and development offerings available in house and via Civil Service Learning.
	There are no paid interns currently working at HM Treasury, the Department has previously participated in the Civil Service Summer Diversity Internship Programme.

Bank Notes

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he had had with the Bank of England regarding the relative number of notes in circulation for £5, £10, £20 and £50.

Sajid Javid: The Chancellor of the Exchequer regularly meets with the Governor of the Bank of England to discuss a wide range of issues.
	The issue of Bank notes is the responsibility of the Bank of England. The Bank of England works with the cash-handling industry and financial institutions to ensure there are enough notes, of the right denominational mix, in circulation to meet public demand.

Capital Investment: Northampton

Brian Binley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the letter from the hon. Member for Northampton South on commuted sums for river maintenance, if he will consider the evidence now available for missing final accounts with a view to replacement of the funding granted under the New Towns Act 1965 for the expansion of Northampton.

Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	Redevelopment in Northampton in the 1970’s required provision by Anglian Water Authority of water, sewerage and flood defence infrastructure. Costs were recharged to the Development Corporation with a commuted sum to cover future maintenance. The Environment Agency has no evidence that any commuted sum paid was specifically allocated for future river maintenance.
	Funding has been provided to maintain an appropriate flood defence standard in Northampton. The Independent Review of the 1998 floods concluded that flood defence standards were appropriate, but were exceeded by the severity of the flood. Investment in defence improvements in 2000 provided Northampton with one of the best standards of fluvial defence in the country. An independent review commissioned by the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee has confirmed that all maintenance and other work to sustain this standard remains in place. Flood risk assets in Northampton are inspected annually and all are assessed to be in good condition.

Child Trust Fund

Damian Hinds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of Child Trust Fund accounts from the first full year of the programme that have received additional deposits;
	(2)  what proportion of parents of Child Trust Fund holders have switched account provider at lease once;
	(3)  what proportion of parents whose children have a Child Trust Fund Stakeholder account (a) opted for a Stakeholder account and (b) were assigned a Stakeholder account as a default option;
	(4)  what proportion of recipients of (a) a £250 Child Trust Fund and (b) a £500 Child Trust Fund have taken out (i) an interest-bearing account, (ii) an equities account and (iii) a stakeholder account.

Sajid Javid: No estimate has been made of the proportion of Child Trust Funds (CTFs), opened within the first year of the account, that received contributions in addition to Government payments. HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information about the transfer of accounts between CTF providers.
	Details of the number of stakeholder CTFs opened by parents, and the number of these accounts opened by HM Revenue and Customs on a Revenue Allocated Account basis, can be found in Table 2 at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ctf/dda-2011.pdf
	This table also contains details of the number of each type of CTF account (stakeholder, shares and cash). In the tables, accounts receiving additional payment awards are those into which the Government has paid £500. The data in this table covers accounts opened before 5 April 2011.

Corporation Tax

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of lowering the 20 per cent small profits rate tax band to (a) 19, (b) 18, (c) 17, (d) 16 and (e) 15 per cent.

David Gauke: HMRC publish National Statistics which show illustrative tax changes and their associated costs in Table 1.6 of the Tax expenditures and ready reckoners release.
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax_expenditures/menu.htm

Free Zones

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the cost to the public purse is of (a) direct government expenditure and (b) estimated loss of revenue of the free ports in (i) Liverpool, (ii) Southampton, (iii) Tilbury and (iv) Sheerness.

David Gauke: For part (a) of the question, the information requested is not available. In respect of part (b) there should be no loss to Government revenue as goods removed from free zones are subject to the same duties as goods directly imported.
	A free zone brought together a number of customs reliefs and procedures in to a geographical location; The lapsing of the statutory instruments that set up free zones has not removed the customs reliefs, which local operators continue to use within the port areas.

Green Deal Scheme

Chris Williamson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will introduce stamp duty and provisions for council tax rebates for purchasers making energy-efficiency improvements to their home to encourage homeowners and landlords to make energy efficiency improvements under the Green Deal programme;
	(2)  if he will introduce fiscal and economic incentives to encourage homeowners and landlords to make energy efficiency improvements under the Green Deal programme.

Sajid Javid: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the 2011 autumn statement, £200 million additional capital to encourage early uptake of the Green Deal. DECC announced, in September 2012, the first £12 million of this funding will be allocated to seven cities across England to help pilot the Green Deal in their regions.

Green Deal Scheme

Chris Williamson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce VAT to five per cent on A rated boilers, A and B rated windows and passive flue gas technologies installed by Green Deal-accredited installers to encourage homeowners and landlords to make energy efficiency improvements under the Green Deal programme.

Sajid Javid: The Government has no plans to introduce a reduced VAT rate for the installation of windows, boilers or passive flue gas technologies.
	The Chancellor announced in the autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, £200 million additional capital to encourage early uptake of the Green Deal. DECC announced, in September 2012, the first £12 million of this funding will be allocated to seven cities across England to help pilot the Green Deal in their regions.

Income Tax: National Insurance Contributions

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to introduce plans to integrate the operation of income tax and national insurance contributions.

David Gauke: Since Budget 2011, the Government has engaged extensively with stakeholders to develop options for operational integration of Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions. As many stakeholders have recognised, this is a complex issue with potentially significant implications for employers' payroll operations. The Government will provide an update on this work later in the autumn. As we have already made clear, this is a long-term reform on which the Government will proceed carefully.

Income Tax: Rates and Rating

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of lowering the 40 per cent income tax band to (a) 30, (b) 38, (c) 37, (d) 36, (e) 35, (f) 34, (g) 33, (h) 32, (i) 31 and (j) 30 per cent.

David Gauke: The Exchequer costs of lowering the higher rate of income tax can be approximated from Table 1.6 ‘Direct effects of illustrative tax changes’, available on the HM Revenue and Custom's website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax_expenditures/table1-6.pdf
	Where appropriate costs include estimates of the direct behavioural responses from marginal rate changes. For very large rate changes these responses are more uncertain.

Income Tax: Rates and Rating

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of lowering the 20 per cent income tax band to (a) 19, (b) 18, (c) 17, (d) 16 and (e) 15 per cent.

David Gauke: The Exchequer costs of lowering the basic rate of income tax can be approximated from Table 1.6 "Direct effects of illustrative tax changes", available on the HM Revenue and Custom's website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax_expenditures/table1-6.pdf

Poverty: Children

William Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the potential effects of the withdrawal of child benefit from the fourth and any subsequent children in a single household on levels of child poverty in those households in each of the next four financial years.

David Gauke: The Government publishes its assessment of the distributional impact of policy decisions at fiscal events. In doing so, the Government has taken unprecedented steps to increase transparency and enable the effective scrutiny of policy making. This analysis was most recently published at Budget 2012 in the main Budget document (annex B).
	The Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission will assess the Government's progress in reducing child poverty and improving life chances.

Private Rented Housing: Energy

Chris Williamson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend and increase the Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance to encourage early improvements to the private rented sector before the introduction of the minimum energy efficiency standard in 2018.

Sajid Javid: The Government is considering the ways in which the market has made use of the Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance, which is scheduled to come to an end in 2015. As with all tax policy, any announcements about the Landlord's Energy Savings Allowance will be made at Budget.

Public Expenditure

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the UK's budget deficit was in each financial year from 2008 to date; and what the estimated budget deficit for each subsequent year up to 2016 will be.

Sajid Javid: The Public Sector Net Borrowing (PSNB) outturn figures for 2008-09 to 2011-12 are set out in the monthly Public Sector Finance (PSF) bulletin, which. is published by the Office for National Statistics.
	The Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) March 2012 Economic and Fiscal outlook sets out the forecast numbers for PSNB for 2012-13 to 2016-17. These numbers are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Public  sector net borrowing 
			 P ercentage of GDP 
			  Year PSNB 
			 Outturn (PSF release August 2012) 2008-09 6.8 
			  2009-10 11.2 
			  2010-11 9.5 
			    
			 Forecast OBR March 2012 2011-12 8.3 
			  2012-13(1) 7.6 
			  2013-14 5.9 
			  2014-15 4.3 
			  2015-16 2.8 
			  2016-17 1.1 
			 (1) PSNB excluding the effects of the Royal Mail transfers. 
		
	
	The OBR will publish an updated forecast alongside the autumn statement on 5 December 2012.

Research

Chris Kelly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what external policy research his Department has commissioned in each of the last six years; from which organisation each such piece of research was commissioned; and what the cost of each such piece of research was.

Sajid Javid: Details of external policy research are not separately recorded in our accounting system. To attempt to extract this data would take us into the disproportionate cost threshold for answering parliamentary questions.

Tax Avoidance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will appoint a committee to investigate the role of KPMG in designing and marketing aggressive tax avoidance schemes;
	(2)  if he will appoint a committee to investigate the role of PwC in designing and marketing aggressive tax avoidance schemes;
	(3)  if he will appoint a committee to investigate the role of Ernst and Young in designing and marketing aggressive tax avoidance schemes;
	(4)  if he will appoint a committee to investigate the role of Deloitte in designing and marketing aggressive tax avoidance schemes;
	(5)  if he will appoint a committee to investigate the role of Robson Rhodes in designing and marketing aggressive tax avoidance schemes.

David Gauke: HMRC is currently considering the outcome of a consultation which has a range of options to improve the information available to the public about tax avoidance schemes and their promoters. The consultation closed on 15 October and the Government are considering its response to this.

Tax Avoidance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent organisations located in tax havens from acquiring private finance initiative contracts.

David Gauke: The Government seeks to ensure that the UK tax system is competitive for all companies and that the UK is an attractive place to do business, while retaining strong protection against tax avoidance. Those considerations apply to all contractors in capital projects, whether they involve private finance in their delivery or not.

Taxation: Combined Heat and Power

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage refineries to generate their own electricity using combined heat and power once levy exemption certificates are removed and carbon price support rates introduced in 2013.

Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
	All but two of the UK's refineries already operate large CHP schemes, although there is potential to increase their capacity, increasing the quantity of electricity they export to the grid.
	Regarding support for fossil fuel fired combined heat and power following the withdrawal of levy exemption certificates in April 2013, I refer the Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Phil Wilson), on 15 October 2012, Official Report, column 130W.
	In respect of carbon price support rates Budget 2012 confirmed that CHP would be exempt from carbon price support costs in respect of heat output. This ensures CHP is not disadvantaged relative to other forms of electricity generation from fossil fuels.

Apprentices

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many apprentices working in his Department are (a) paid and (b) completing a qualification as part of the apprenticeship.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not run official apprenticeship schemes. However, the FCO does participate in government-wide schemes similar in nature to apprenticeships, such as the finance trainee scheme, under which 11 trainees are studying for nationally-recognised accountancy qualifications over a period of around 3-4 years. We also participate in the Civil Service Human Resources Fast Stream scheme, which places trainees in government departments for two 18-month placements whilst they undertake their Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development qualifications. The FCO has committed to taking two trainees under this scheme for 2012.
	FCO Services, the FCO's Trading Fund which provides essential support services to the FCO and other Government Departments, does run an official apprenticeship scheme. New apprentices are taken on each September and the programme lasts three years. FCO Services currently has 40 paid apprentices who are completing a qualification as part of their apprenticeship.

Apprentices

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) paid apprentices and (b) paid interns are employed in his Department.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not run official apprenticeship schemes. FCO Services, the FCO's Trading Fund which provides essential support services to the FCO and other Government Departments, does run an official apprenticeship scheme and currently has 40 paid apprentices who are completing a qualification as part of their apprenticeship.
	The FCO does employ a number of paid interns. In 2012, we significantly expanded our work experience opportunities, offering over 70 internship placements through a range of advertised work experience schemes.

Burma

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the findings of the Chin Human Rights Organization's report entitled Threats to Our Existence: Persecution of Ethnic Chin Christians in Burma published in September 2012.

Hugo Swire: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, accompanied by colleagues from the Department for International Development, met a delegation from the Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO) during their visit to UK in September. They read with great interest the full and comprehensive report produced by the CHRO and are considering its recommendations.

Burma

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Chin State following the ceasefire agreed between the Burmese Army and the Chin National Front.

Hugo Swire: Officials from the British Embassy Rangoon regularly meet representatives from Chin political parties to discuss their concerns. We have also taken careful note of the findings of the Chin Human Rights Organization's report, 'Threats to Our Existence' and are considering its recommendations.

Burma

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Burmese counterparts on Burma's refusal to allow ethnic Rohingya to be included in the 2014 Census. Swire

Hugo Swire: Our Ambassador in Rangoon discussed the importance of including all those living in Burma within the census with the Borders Minister in September. We will continue to raise these issues with both the Burmese authorities and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) which is working with the Burmese government on the census planning.

Burma

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the potential role of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Burma in violating the right to freedom of religion for religious minorities.

Hugo Swire: We have taken careful note of the findings of the Chin Human Rights Organisation's report, 'Threats to Our Existence' including the allegations made against the Ministry of Religious Affairs. We are considering the report's recommendations. Ministers and officials continue to raise our concerns about religious freedom with the Burmese government at every opportunity.

Burma

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Burma regarding reports that the Border Areas National Races Youth Development Training Schools are run by the military and that youth from Chin Christian backgrounds are forbidden from practising Christianity and forced to convert to Buddhism.

Hugo Swire: We have taken careful note of the findings of the Chin Human Rights Organisation's report, 'Threats to Our Existence' including the allegations surrounding the Border Areas National Races Youth Development Training Schools. In discussions with the Burmese government the UK continues to condemn all instances where individuals face persecution or discrimination because of their faith or beliefs, wherever they happen and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned.

Burma

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of which Na Sa Ka bases in Arakan State are being used to detain ethnic Rohingya.

Hugo Swire: We are aware of unverified reports of Rohingya being detained in Na Sa Ka bases in Rakhine (Arakan) State.
	At the UN General Assembly in September 2012, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pressed the Burmese government to seek a long term solution to the issues affecting Burma's ethnic groups, including the Rohingya.
	Our Ambassador in Rangoon visited Rakhine State in early October. This was the first independent diplomatic mission to the area since the violence erupted in June. The Ambassador met community leaders and saw some of the worst affected areas for himself, including the state capital Sittwe which was the scene of some of the worst violence during the recent unrest. The UK is providing humanitarian support through core contributions to UN and EU and has stressed the importance of ensuring the aid does not support or lead to the permanent displacement of Rohingya communities.

Burma

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the involvement of the Burmese Department of Education and Training in violating the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.

Hugo Swire: We have taken careful note of the findings of the Chin Human Rights Organisation's report, 'Threats to Our Existence," including the allegations of the involvement of the Burmese Department of Education and Training in violating the rights of ethnic and religious minorities. Ministers and officials continue to raise our concerns with the Burmese government over reports of human rights abuses, including religious intolerance, at every opportunity.

Burma

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Bangladeshi government on closure of the border between Burma and Bangladesh.

Alistair Burt: Border trade between Bangladesh and Burma resumed on 28-August, following meetings between respective border security officials. The crossing had previously been closed since 8 June following the onset of sectarian violence in the north Rakhine State in Burma.
	The British Government is in regular contact with the Government of Bangladesh about the humanitarian situation in the Bangladesh-Burma border area. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague)—during a meeting with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, on 28 July—raised the issue of Bangladesh's international obligation to accept refugees and offer emergency medical support to those attempting to cross into Bangladesh to flee the violence in north Rakhine State, Burma. The then Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), also discussed the humanitarian situation in the southeast of the country with Prime Minister Hasina on 12 August.
	The British high commission in Dhaka, along with EU partners, has regular conversations with senior interlocutors in the Government of Bangladesh to stress the importance that essential aid agency programmes in south-eastern Bangladesh are able to continue.

Business: Human Rights

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the recommendation of the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions, whether he plans to undertake a national baseline study and gap analysis with reference to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

David Lidington: The Government congratulates the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions on their recent successful conference in Berlin. The Government envisages that its strategy on business and human rights will include analysis of the current UK baseline situation across the three pillars of the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework.

Business: Human Rights

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider the work of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority as part of the Government's strategy on business and human rights.

David Lidington: In its work towards a Government strategy on business and human rights, the Government has given consideration to current UK legislation surrounding the protection of human rights, including the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 which had the objective of preventing the exploitation of workers in a specific sector of UK domestic business activity.

Business: Human Rights

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to require companies to map supply chains as part of the Government's strategy on business and human rights.

David Lidington: The UN Guiding Principles emphasised the importance of supply chains as an area of potential human rights vulnerability. The Government is working to ensure that the UK strategy on business and human rights gives similar weight to supply chain issues as do the Guiding Principles, including questions of business due diligence regarding human rights risks.

European Parliament

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on support for attempts to petition the EU over stopping sittings of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

David Lidington: The UK Government's position on the site of the European Parliament is well known from the Coalition programme for government. The UK Government is committed to reducing cost and waste in the European Union, and believes that a single seat for the European Parliament, in Brussels, would save money and make it more efficient.

Territorial Waters

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the future of Rockall in the event of secession.
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the future of British territorial waters in the event of secession.

David Lidington: I have not discussed the future of British territorial waters or the Island of Rockall with any Scottish Government representative, and nor have my Ministerial or Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials.
	The Government's position is clear: the Government is not making plans for independence as we are confident that people in Scotland will continue to support the United Kingdom in the proposed referendum. Scotland is stronger as part of the UK and the UK is stronger with Scotland in it.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the forthcoming elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Simmonds: The Governor's Office in the Turks and Caicos Islands published a progress report on 18 September entitled "Implementing Reforms and Preparing for Elections", which is available online at
	http://uk.sitestat.com/fcoweb/ukingov/s?was.tci.resources.en.news.2012.september.milestones.p.pdf. milestones1.pdf&ns_type=pdf&ns_url=http://turksandcaicosislands.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/2012/milestones1.pdf
	This report summarises the good progress that has been made by the Elections Office and the Governor's Office with the preparations for the elections which are due to be held on 9 November.

Bell Towers

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which bell towers have received grants from public funds in the last 12 months.

Edward Vaizey: Funds are available from public sources to support repairs to bell towers where they are part of listed places of worship. Such support includes the Listed Places of Worship Scheme and the one-off Department for Culture, Media and Sport capital grant scheme for 2012-13. Funding is also available from English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the £56 million DCMS, HLF and Arts Council England "Catalyst: Endowment" Fund.
	Data are not available about the amounts dispersed specifically for works to bell towers or the location of bell towers that have benefited.

Cultural Heritage

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of conservation of literary landmarks.

Edward Vaizey: I have made no specific assessment. However, English Heritage is aware of the claims of literary interest and strives to identify such connections with buildings, both through listing and through the Blue Plaques scheme. Many writers' tombs are also listed.
	Government guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework and English Heritage's own Conservation Principles stress the need to uphold the significance of such heritage assets. English Heritage has grant-funded urgent repairs to buildings at risk with literary connections, for example, Mrs Gaskell's house in Ardwick, Manchester in 2009 and the repair of the church tower at Grantchester, Cambridgeshire which is the subject of a poem by Rupert Brooke.
	Broader landmarks like landscapes can be protected through designation as areas of outstanding natural beauty, for example, the Shropshire Hills; as world heritage sites, for example Bath and through conservation area status, for example, Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia or Soho in London. There are many writer's house museums, opened by independent bodies and the National Trust, which also celebrate these connections. These are almost always listed.
	Many literary heritage projects, or places of note from a literary viewpoint, have received support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. These include the birthplace of Burns—now the Burns Museum; Keats House; the Bronte Parsonage; Jane Austen's house in Hampshire; Dove Cottage, the home of Wordsworth; and the Roald Dahl Centre.

HMS Victory

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assurances she has been given that the Maritime Heritage Foundation has the appropriate resources and independent archaeological expertise to manage properly HMS Victory 1774.

Edward Vaizey: Government consideration of proposals by the Maritime Heritage Foundation for work at the wreck site of the Victory 1744, are informed by an advisory group which has representation from the Ministry of Defence, English Heritage and the National Museum of the Royal Navy. This Department has observer status on this group. No work on the site can be undertaken without the approval of the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond).

Holiday Accommodation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the level of associated expenditure in local economies from visitors in self-catering accommodation.

Hugh Robertson: The Department does not record this information. The Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey (IPS) provides the main source of data on accommodation type used by overseas visitors, which can be found at the following link:
	http://www.visitbritain.org/insightsandstatistics/inbound visitorstatistics/regions/regionalspread.aspx
	The IPS does not have a category specifically for 'self-catering'; most inbound visitors who are self-catering will fall into the 'other' category. However, those who selected 'own home' or 'camping/mobile home' may also capture 'self-catering'.

Marketing

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much has been spent on rebranding her Department and its agencies since May 2010.

Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not spent any money on rebranding since May 2010. Its agency, The Royal Parks, has, since May 2010 spent £11,424.00 on its own rebranding out of its own budget.

Museums and Galleries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if her Department will take steps to (a) review the Arts Fund Criteria to ensure all forms of art are eligible for funding, (b) help independent and new artists display and sell their work and (c) ensure small to medium-sized galleries are eligible to participate in the Own Art Scheme.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works to make sure the cultural sector has the framework to grow and have real impact on people's lives. However, it does so in partnership with a wide range of arm's length public bodies, private, charitable and voluntary organisations. It seeks to support these bodies, not intervene in their operations.
	(a) The Art Fund is an independent charity and Government has neither the locus nor the inclination to intervene in its activities.
	(b) Arts Council England's (ACE) ‘Own Art’ scheme makes it easier and more affordable for people to buy and sell contemporary art and craft by offering interest free loans of up to £2,000 for the purchase of work by living artists. During the past year over 3,700 customers used the ‘Own Art’ scheme, generating an estimated £1.8 million worth of income for artists. ACE also supports artist-led galleries that focus on showing emerging, talent and encouraging sales of their work through their investment in their National Portfolio organisations. These include ‘Workplace’ in Newcastle, ‘Matts Gallery’, ‘Chisenhale Gallery’ and ‘Studio Voltaire’ in London which have a strong focus on emerging talent and selling work.
	(c) ACE publicises the opportunity for galleries to apply for membership of the ‘Own Art’ scheme on a regular basis, and encourages applications from galleries of all kinds specialising in the sale of high quality contemporary art and craft, from small scale commercial businesses up to larger publicly funded museums and galleries.

Olympic Games 2012

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much has been spent in each region on programmes launched as part of the Cultural Olympiad on the latest date for which figures are available.

Edward Vaizey: The total budget for the Cultural Olympiad, including the London 2012 Festival, was £105 million for the four year period from 2008-12. This budget was raised from both public and private sector sources including the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Legacy Trust, the Olympic Lottery Distributor, UK Arts Councils, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Greater London Authority and several commercial partners and sponsors. Much of the funding was secured directly by the projects themselves, as opposed to passing through a centralised budget so figures detailing the spending in each region are not available. However, individual regions, such as the West Midlands and East of England, have produced their own analyses of their region's programme.
	Further information can be found at the following links:
	East of England
	http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/media/uploads/doc/Evaluation_of_the_Cultural_Olympiad_East_of_England.pdf
	West Midlands
	http://visitbirmingham.com/files/2012-09-39/35634Culturalolympics6ppA4proof2LR_tcm33-41273.pdf
	South East
	http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/media/uploads/se_website_ images/SouthEastCulturalOlympiadVolumeTwo.pdf

Tourism

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of inbound tourists to the UK in the latest month for which figures are available.

Hugh Robertson: This information is not recorded by the Department. Data relating to inbound tourism are recorded via the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey (IPS). The latest published data can be found at the following link:
	http://www.visitbritain.org/Images/August%202012%20IPS %20Memo%20with%20charts_tcm29-35181.pdf
	which show that an estimated 420,000 visits from overseas to the UK took place in July and August 2012.

Tourism: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps (a) Visit Britain and (b) Visit England is taking to promote tourism in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Pendle constituency.

Hugh Robertson: Lancashire and Pendle are an important part of our tourism offer. Although VisitEngland, our national tourism board, does not promote at the local level, it does engage in national promotions and public relations work which benefits such locations as Lancashire. VisitEngland is currently developing four thematic marketing campaigns based on City, Coast, Countryside and Heritage and Lancashire and Pendle embodies all four.
	A new Destination Management Organisation is currently being set up in Lancashire which will be covering the Pendle constituency, and VisitEngland staff have met with their team to discuss key priorities, and to look further at promotion and development opportunities.
	VisitBritain is investing in a major international promotional campaign in key overseas markets; over the next four years, this is expected to deliver 4.6 million extra visitors, £2.27 billion in extra visitor spend and over 50,000 job opportunities across the whole nation. This campaign will take advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity afforded by the unique events of 2012 to maximise the industry's potential and ensure that we create a sustained legacy for tourism. Destinations all over the UK, including those in Lancashire, stand to benefit from these initiatives.

World Heritage Sites

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many applications for locations in England to become World Heritage Sites are outstanding; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Individual national governments are responsible for nominating sites in their country from a Tentative List of Future Nominations. After a nomination is presented, there is an 18 month period of evaluation by one of UNESCO's expert advisers before a final decision is made by the World Heritage Committee at its annual meeting.
	Following a public consultation, ‘World Heritage for the Nation: Identifying, Protecting and Promoting Our World Heritage’, the UK's Tentative List was reviewed and a new Tentative List was announced in March 2011.
	Sites on the Tentative List which wanted to go forward straight away with a nomination to UNESCO were invited to complete a Technical Evaluation by 9 April 2012. The Technical Evaluations which came forward were assessed by an Expert Group. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced which sites have been invited to prepare a full submission to UNESCO: the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh has been invited to prepare a nomination for 2014 and Gorham's Cave Complex in Gibraltar will go forward in 2015.
	More detailed information about the nominations processed and sites on the Tentative List, is available on our website:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/historic_environment/4168.aspx

Accident and Emergency Departments

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the proposed (a) closure of Accident and Emergency services across the country and (b) service changes to the NHS in Worcestershire.

Anna Soubry: The Government's policy is that front line national health service reconfigurations and major service changes should be locally led and clinically driven. The underlying rationale should be that changes deliver an improvement in quality and outcomes for patients. The guiding principles are the Secretary of State's four tests, which are that schemes should be able to demonstrate: support from clinical commissioners; clarity on the clinical evidence base; robust patient and public engagement; and support for patient choice. It is for the local NHS, working with their partners, to plan, develop and implement proposals for change and assure these proposals against the four tests.

Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent progress has been made by the Clinical Reference Group on Blood and Marrow Transplantation on (a) the development of a national tariff for blood and marrow transplantation, (b) CQUINs for blood and marrow transplantation and (c) the quality dashboard for blood and marrow transplantation;
	(2)  whether NHS trusts will be mandated to complete the quality dashboard for blood and marrow transplantation; and what arrangements will be in place to ensure organisations are held to account on the outcomes they achieve;
	(3)  on what dates the Clinical Reference Group on Blood and Marrow Transplantation has met in 2012; and if he will publish the minutes of each meetings;
	(4)  what recent consideration his Department has given to the role of mobilisation in the development of commissioning products by the Clinical Reference Group on Blood and Marrow Transplantation.

Anna Soubry: This work is led by the NHS Commissioning Board who have provided the following response.
	Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs) were set up in 2012 to assist in the transition of “prescribed” specialised services into the NHS Commissioning Board. They provide the clinical leadership and input into the development of commissioning and contracting products for prescribed services. There are over 60 CRGs which report into five national programmes of care.
	The outputs of the Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) CRGs are currently being considered and assessed by the Clinical Advisory Group for specialised services. Depending on their recommendations, these products will then be used in the 2013-14 contracts. The BMT CRG, while looking to ensure convergence of standards across providers for the service, has not developed a national tariff for BMT. However, the introduction of a single operating model provides an opportunity to address inconsistency in pricing, currencies and contracting mechanisms but recognise that this will not be in place by April 2013.
	Quality dashboards are not specifically about improving services, they are about benchmarking services as a way of aiding improvement. Quality dashboards have been developed during 2012-13 for 20 prescribed service areas, including BMT. Providers will be populating information into these commencing Quarter 3 2012-13. The intention is to carry on using these quality dashboards in 2013-14. These quality dashboards will continue to be refined to provide the right information to support safe and effective services and provide a national perspective of quality standards across the country.
	The BMT CRG have met on the following dates:
	15 May 2012
	6 July 2012
	17 October 2012.
	Minutes are available on request.
	The commissioning policy for 2013-14 for BMT has considered a wide range of issues, including new drugs/devices. These will be regularly revised and updated.

Cancer: Accident and Emergency Departments

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were first diagnosed with cancer whilst admitted to casualty in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: This information is not held centrally.
	In November 2010, the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) produced an analysis of cancer diagnosis, including for patients diagnosed as an emergency presentation, for all patients diagnosed with cancer during 2007. A copy of the NCIN report, ‘Routes to Diagnosis’, has already been placed in the Library.
	The findings of the NCIN report were considered in the development of ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’, published on 12 January 2011, which set out our intention to develop a routine assessment of the proportion of cancers diagnosed through emergency routes. Work is now under way to examine the feasibility of this.
	On 21 September 2012, the NCIN published ‘Routes to diagnosis for cancer—determining the patient journey using multiple routine data sets’ in the British Journal of Cancer. This new study offers an analysis of cancer diagnosis between 2006 and 2008 and also includes those patients diagnosed as an emergency presentation. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library.

Diabetes

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to consult industry on the development of the Diabetes Action Plan.

Anna Soubry: The aim of the Diabetes Action Plan is to set out the actions that the national health service can take to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. The Department is working in consultation with NHS colleagues and leading stakeholders from the voluntary sector including Diabetes UK, to produce an action plan that will be published later this year. In acknowledgement, that the pharmaceutical industry has a major role to play in improving diabetes care it will be consulted on the action plan via engagement with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

Domestic Violence

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training is available to health practitioners to (a) improve their awareness and understanding of domestic violence and (b) help them recognise signs of domestic violence in patients.

Anna Soubry: The Department of Health is committed to improving standards of care and support for women and child victims of domestic violence. This commitment is outlined in ‘Improving services for women and child victims of violence: the Department of Health Action Plan’, published in November 2010, and sets out how the Department will work with the national health service and partners to address this issue. Further details of the action plan are available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_122003
	A fundamental part of the action plan includes work to improve awareness and training of professionals. This includes specific bespoke projects, such as the development of an e-learning toolkit by the Royal College of General Practitioners on violence against women and children which was funded by the Department The e-learning tool enables general practitioners (GPs) to identify and respond to victims more effectively. The Foundation Programme Curriculum 2012 for newly qualified doctors now includes sexual and domestic violence and relevant competencies have been included in the 2012 Foundation Curriculum to supplement those already covering safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
	In December 2005, the Department published ‘Responding to Domestic Abuse: a handbook for health professionals’. The handbook gives practical guidance to health care professionals on working with patients who may have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse. A copy of the handbook is available at:
	ixwww.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4126619.pdf
	Copies of both documents have already been placed in the Library.

Drugs: Misuse

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made on the number of (a) recreational drug users and (b) drug addicts in (i) Enfield North constituency, (ii) London and (iii) England.

Anna Soubry: The ‘National and regional estimates of the prevalence of opiate and/or crack cocaine use 2009-10’ report, published by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, summarises the results of work by the University of Glasgow's Centre for Drug Misuse Research and the University of Manchester's National Drug Evidence Centre, to estimate the prevalence of opiate and/or crack use in England at a national, regional, and local level. In 2009-10, there were 306,150 opiate and/or crack users in England, of which 51,445 were in London and 1,594 in Enfield.
	As part of the Crime Survey of England and Wales, data on self-reported drug use are collected by the Home Office. The following table shows the proportion of adults (aged 16 to 59 years) in England and Wales who have taken the drugs listed in the last year over the past 10 years. The proportion for Enfield is not separately estimated.
	
		
			 Proportion of 16 to 59-year-olds reporting use of illicit drugs in the last year by drug, 2002-03 and 2011-12 
			  2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Class A           
			 Any cocaine 2.1 2.5 2.0 2.4 2.6 2.4 3.0 2.5 2.2 2.2 
			 Powder cocaine 2.1 2.4 2.0 2.4 2.6 2.4 3.0 2.4 2.1 2.2 
			 Crack cocaine 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 
			 Ecstasy 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.5 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.4 
			 Hallucinogens 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.1 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 
			 LSD 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Magic mushrooms 0.6 0.8 1.1 1.0 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 
			 Opiates 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 
			 Heroin 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Methadone 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			            
			 Class A/B           
			 Any amphetamine n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.2 1.0 1.1 0.8 
			 Amphetamines 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.8 
			 Methamphetamine n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 
			 Class B           
			 Cannabis 10.9 10.8 9.7 8.7 8.2 7.6 7.9 6.6 6.8 6.9 
			 Mephedrone n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.4 1.1 
			 Spice (and other cannabinoids) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.2 0.1 
			            
			 Class B/C           
			 Tranquillisers 0.6 0.6 .0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.5 
			            
		
	
	
		
			 Class C           
			 Anabolic steroids 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Ketamine n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 
			 GBL/GHB n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.0 0.1 
			 BZP n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.1 0.1 
			            
			 Not classified           
			 Amyl nitrite 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.1 1.0 0.8 
			 Glues 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 n/a n/a 
			 Khat n/a n/a n/a. n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0.2 0.2 
			 Note: ‘n/a’ indicates that the question was not applicable or not asked in that particular year. Source: Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2011/12 Crime Survey for England and Wales (2nd Edition), Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			 Proportion of 16 to 59-year-olds reporting use of illicit drugs in the last year by English region and Wales, 2002-03 to 2011-12 
			  2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Powder cocaine           
			 England 2.1 2.5 2.0 2.5 2.7 2.4 3.1 2.5 2.2 2.2 
			 London 3.7 4.5 3.2 4.1 2.9 3.0 4.4 3.0 2.9 3.2 
			            
			 Ecstasy           
			 England 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.8 1.5 1.9 1.6 1.4 1.4 
			 London 2.6 2.6 2.0 2.0 2.4 2.1 2.2 1.8 2.0 2.2 
			            
			 Hallucinogens           
			 England 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.1 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.5 
			 London 1.0 1.3 1.9 1.5 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.5 0.8 
			            
			 Amphetamines           
			 England 1.6 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.0 1.2 0.9 1.0 0.8 
			 London 1.9 1.3 1.1 1.3 1.1 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.4 
			            
			 Cannabis           
			 England 11.0 10.8 9.7 8.8 8.3 7.6 7.9 6.6 6.9 7.0 
			 London 13.6 12.8 10.2 8.8 8.4 7.7 9.1 6.8 7.0 7.6 
			            
			 Any Class A drug (1)           
			 England 3.4 3.5 3.2 3.4 3.4 3.1 3.7 3.1 3.0 3.0 
			 London. 5.1 5.5 4.3 5.2 3.6 3.8 4.9 3.5 3.8 4.3 
			            
			 Any drug (2)           
			 England 12.3 12.4 11.3 10.5 10.1 9.6 10.1 8.6 8.9 9.0 
			 London 15.2 14.7 12.2 11.2 10.5 9.4 12.0 9.4 9.2 10.5 
			 (1) Any Class A drug' comprises powder cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, magic mushrooms, heroin and methadone plus methamphetamine since 2008/09 interviews. (2) Any drug' comprises powder cocaine, crack cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, magic mushrooms, ketamine, heroin, methadone, amphetamines, methamphetamine, cannabis, tranquillisers, anabolic steroids, amyl nitrite, any other pills/powders/drugs smoked. Source: Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2011/12 Crime Survey for England and Wales (2nd Edition), Office for National Statistics

General Practitioners

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of NHS-registered patients per general practitioner was in each primary care trust in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is set out in the following table, which has been supplied by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
	
		
			 Average number of general practitioners (GP) registered patients per GP (excluding retainers and registrars) by primary care trust (PCT) in England, 2007-11 
			 Registered patients per General Practitioner 
			    2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 
			  England  1,606 1,586 1,520 1,567 1,562 
			         
			 Q30 North East  1,480 1,463 1,411 1,448 1,456 
			  5ND County Durham PCT 1,501 1,507 1,409 1,464 1,526 
			  5J9 Darlington PCT 1,485 1,479 1,488 1,451 1,392 
			  5KF Gateshead PCT 1,417 1,387 1,349 1,324 1,312 
			  5D9 Hartlepool PCT 1,455 1,554 1,449 1,599 1,550 
			  5KM Middlesbrough PCT 1,548 1,626 1,531 1,514 1,499 
			  5D7 Newcastle PCT 1,521 1,469 1,471 1,453 1,402 
			  5D8 North Tyneside PCT 1,436 1,424 1,383 1,387 1,347 
			  TAC Northumberland Care Trust 1,312 1,231 1,239 1,277 1,272 
			  5QR Redcar and Cleveland PCT 1,413 1,442 1,383 1,306 1,376 
			  5KG South Tyneside PCT 1,558 1,551 1,449 1,474 1,500 
			  5E1 Stockton-On-Tees Teaching PCT 1,686 1,692 1,588 1,599 1,665 
			  5KL Sunderland Teaching PCT 1,538 1,495 1,435 1,456 1,489 
			         
			 Q31 North West  1,630 1,606 1,521 1,548 1,552 
			  5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 1,731 1,675 1,750 1,683 1,635 
			  TAP Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus 1,837 1,739 1,753 1,743 1,732 
			  5HP Blackpool PCT 1,674 1,649 1,553 1,640 1,575 
			  5HQ Bolton PCT 1,648 1,525 1,458 1,394 1,419 
			  5JX Bury PCT 1,810 1,765 1,590 1,671 1,654 
			  5NP Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 1,599 1,541 1,523 1,557 1,619 
			  5NG Central Lancashire PCT 1,739 1,757 1,787 1,851 1,813 
			  5NE Cumbria Teaching PCT 1,381 1,328 1,086 1,206 1,247 
			  5NH East Lancashire Teaching PCT 1,767 1,749 1,758 1,704 1,645 
			  5NM Halton and St Helens PCT 1,706 1,704 1,550 1,649 1,605 
			  5NQ Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 1,779 1,748 1,704 1,579 1,533 
			  5J4 Knowsley PCT 1,872 1,461 1,249 1,365 1,453 
			  5NL Liverpool PCT 1,492 1,628 1,560 1,451 1,344 
			  5NT Manchester PCT 1,653 1,634 1,608 1,551 1,610 
			  5NF North Lancashire Teaching PCT 1,671 1,662 1,616 1,621 1,585 
			  5J5 Oldham PCT 1,794 1,713 1,637 1,668 1,690 
			  5F5 Salford PCT 1,453 1,492 1,363 1,439 1,549 
			  5NJ Sefton PCT 1,667 1,617 1,526 1,616 1,643 
			  5F7 Stockport PCT 1,554 1,519 1,526 1,546 1,568 
			  5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 1,762 1,854 1,641 1,630 1,717 
			  5NR Trafford PCT 1,671 1,666 1,650 1,625 1,578 
			  5J2 Warrington PCT 1,695 1,712 1,602 1,602 1,541 
			  5NN Western Cheshire PCT 1,437 1,471 1,357 1,318 1,385 
			  5NK Wirral PCT 1,512 1,465 1,355 1,352 1,371 
			         
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber  1,540 1,526 1,491 1,521 1,511 
			  5JE Barnsley PCT 1,882 1,806 1,591 1,624 1,612 
			  5NY Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 1,302 1,345 1,295 1,345 1,334 
		
	
	
		
			  5J6 Calderdale PCT 1,803 1,847 1,907 1,853 1,833 
			  5N5 Doncaster PCT 1,735 1,734 1,533 1,622 1,620 
			  5NW East Riding Of Yorkshire PCT 1,617 1,632 1,620 1,607 1,603 
			  5NX Hull Teaching PCT 1,853 1,679 1,797 1,699 1,688 
			  5N2 Kirklees PCT 1,691 1,619 1,584 1,673 1,618 
			  5N1 Leeds PCT 1,554 1,529 1,490 1,511 1,524 
			  TAN North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus 1,732 1,694 1,648 1,648 1,609 
			  5EF North Lincolnshire PCT 1,668 1,585 1,639 1,575 1,706 
			  5NV North Yorkshire and York PCT 1,362 1,371 1,338 1,363 1,329 
			  5H8 Rotherham PCT 1,685 1,619 1,628 1,669 1,638 
			  5N4 Sheffield PCT 1,372 1,399 1,378 1,354 1,320 
			  5N3 Wakefield District PCT 1,536 1,485 1,480 1,493 1,529 
			         
			 Q33 East Midlands  1,687 1,642 1,596 1,645 1,646 
			  5ET Bassetlaw PCT 1,655 1,618 1,605 1,710 1,740 
			  5N7 Derby City PCT 1,772 1,753 1,685 1,640 1,675 
			  5N6 Derbyshire County PCT 1,534 1,458 1,419 1,463 1,470 
			  5PC Leicester City PCT 1,741 1,656 1,776 1,716 1,795 
			  5PA Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 1,718 1,708 1,497 1,593 1,614 
			  5N9 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 1,747 1,738 1,683 1,710 1,719 
			  5PD Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 1,717 1,689 1,717 1,737 1,723 
			  5EM Nottingham City PCT 1,698 1,658 1,671 1,702 1,679 
			  5N8 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 1,679 1,598 1,547 1,611 1,540 
			         
			 Q34 West Midlands  1,656 1,643 1,602 1,617 1,618 
			  5PG Birmingham East and North PCT 1,759 1,686 1,715 1,687 1,708 
			  5MD Coventry Teaching PCT 1,742 1,708 1,662 1,676 1,683 
			  5PE Dudley PCT 1,673 1,631 1,593 1,608 1,561 
			  5MX Heart Of Birmingham Teaching PCT 1,765 1,755 1,686 1,675 1,598 
			  5CN Herefordshire PCT 1,307 1,304 1,347 1,332 1,356 
			  5PH North Staffordshire PCT 1,841 1,733 1,679 1,696 1,582 
			  5PF Sandwell PCT 1,803 1,867 1,801 1,793 1,939 
			  5M2 Shropshire County PCT 1,448 1,433 1,450 1,382 1,429 
			  5QW Solihull Primary Care Trust 1,525 1,551 1,560 1,486 1,530 
			  5M1 South Birmingham PCT 1,428 1,392 1,381 1,394 1,423 
			  5PK South Staffordshire PCT 1,728 1,699 1,711 1,640 1,615 
			  5PJ Stoke On Trent PCT 1,857 1,834 1,670 1,751 1,728 
			  5MK Telford and Wrekin PCT 1,753 1,797 1,681 1,742 1,676 
			  5M3 Walsall Teaching PCT 1,945 1,862 1,665 1,718 1,729 
			  5PM Warwickshire PCT 1,685 1,687 1,658 1,618 1,641 
			  5MV Wolverhampton City PCT 1,920 1,888 1,617 1,767 1,712 
			  5PL Worcestershire PCT 1,431 1,483 1,453 1,471 1,455 
			         
			 Q35 East of England  1,661 1,642 1,625 1,648 1,646 
			  5P2 Bedfordshire PCT 1,647 1,611 1,594 1,651 1,604 
			  5PP Cambridgeshire PCT 1,452 1,433 1,440 1,417 1,455 
			  5P3 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 1,804 1,784 1,763 n/a n/a 
			  5PR Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 1,611 1,640 1,587 1,637 1,582 
			  5QV Hertfordshire PCT n/a n/a n/a 1,694 1,674 
			  5GC Luton PCT 1,978 1,987 1,887 1,915 1,817 
			  5PX Mid Essex PCT 1,791 1,735 1,748 1,761 1,731 
		
	
	
		
			  5PQ Norfolk PCT 1,481 1,454 1,482 1,482 1,462 
			  5PW North East Essex PCT 1,706 1,780 1,802 1,781 1,785 
			  5PN Peterborough PCT 1,715 1,697 1,554 1,638 1,635 
			  5P1 South East Essex PCT 1,901 1,943 1,904 1,889 1,929 
			  5PY South West Essex PCT 2,156 1,985 1,885 1,951 2,032 
			  5PT Suffolk PCT 1,529 1,537 1,514 1,514 1,537 
			  5PV West Essex PCT 1,607 1,611 1,568 1,669 1,684 
			  5P4 West Hertfordshire PCT 1,631 1,610 1,583 n/a n/a 
			         
			 Q36 London  1,698 1,666 1,611 1,645 1,626 
			  5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT 2,210 1,992 1,794 1,737 1,933 
			  5A9 Barnet PCT 1,671 1,670 1,647 1,632 1,714 
			  TAK Bexley Care Trust 2,056 2,124 1,893 1,932 1,977 
			  5K5 Brent Teaching PCT 1,776 1,722 1,639 1,706 1,544 
			  5A7 Bromley PCT 1,578 1,512 1,511 1,492 1,516 
			  5K7 Camden PCT 1,525 1,373 1,411 1,362 1,350 
			  5C3 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 1,410 1,509 1,464 1,395 1,416 
			  5K9 Croydon PCT 1,688 1,583 1,588 1,706 1,689 
			  5HX Ealing PCT 1,716 1,682 1,776 1,800 1,760 
			  5C1 Enfield PCT 1,753 1,774 1,600 1,507 1,739 
			  5A8 Greenwich Teaching PCT 1,879 1,907 1,747 1,708 1,700 
			  5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 1,752 1,558 1,656 1,490 1,535 
			  5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 1,785 1,726 1,697 1,594 1,531 
			  5K6 Harrow PCT 1,631 1,566 1,498 1,558 1,463 
			  5A4 Havering PCT 1,902 2,014 1,930 1,962 1,958 
			  5AT Hillingdon PCT 1,940 1,878 1,761 1,834 1,840 
			  5HY Hounslow PCT 1,986 1,882 1,897 1,848 1,898 
			  5K8 Islington PCT 1,567 1,533 1,434 1,405 1,382 
			  5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 1,801 1,725 1,800 1,737 1,599 
			  5A5 Kingston PCT 1,581 1,591 1,566 1,586 1,545 
			  5LD Lambeth PCT 1,441 1,447 1,366 1,420 1,400 
			  5LF Lewisham PCT 1,580 1,525 1,502 1,564 1,535 
			  5C5 Newham PCT 1,710 1,816 1,751 1,788 1,762 
			  5NA Redbridge PCT 2,013 2,034 1,909 2,032 1,951 
			  5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 1,636 1,653 1,638 1,627 1,594 
			  5LE Southwark PCT 1,591 1,532 1,505 1,619 1,484 
			  5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 1,661 1,671 1,583 1,536 1,480 
			  5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 1,518 1,441 1,233 1,321 1,245 
			  5NC Waltham Forest PCT 1,743 1,854 1,694 1,805 1,775 
			  5LG Wandsworth PCT 1,633 1,617 1,553 1,462 1,379 
			  5LC Westminster PCT 1,770 1,514 1,617 1,702 1,494 
			         
			 Q37 South East Coast  1,650 1,638 1,596 1,603 1,579 
			  5LQ Brighton and Hove City PCT 1,716 1,734 1,656 1,860 1,769 
			  5P7 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 1,555 1,566 1,567 1,502 1,478 
			  5QA Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 1,695 1,635 1,593 1,590 1,648 
			  5P8 Hastings and Rother PCT 1,593 1,578 1,629 1,567 1,476 
			  5L3 Medway PCT 2,081 2,016 1,687 1,695 1,679 
			  5P5 Surrey PCT 1,582 1,582 1,567 1,536 1,509 
			  5P9 West Kent PCT 1,799 1,771 1,701 1,704 1,657 
			  5P6 West Sussex PCT 1,522 1,534 1,515 1,542 1,500 
			         
			 Q38 South Central  1,595 1,595 1,348 1,562 1,543 
		
	
	
		
			  5QG Berkshire East PCT 1,845 1,729 1,277 1,690 1,653 
			  5QF Berkshire West PCT 1,614 1,610 1,262 1,621 1,561 
			  5QD Buckinghamshire PCT 1,568 1,582 1,176 1,524 1,528 
			  5QC Hampshire PCT 1,600 1,587 1,556 1,536 1,511 
			  5QT Isle of Wight NHS PCT 1,608 1,616 1,599 1,535 1,496 
			  5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 1,696 1,749 1,308 1,729 1,719 
			  5QE Oxfordshire PCT 1,442 1,458 1,125 1,423 1,410 
			  5FE Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 1,734 1,751 1,717 1,775 1,764 
			  5L1 Southampton City PCT 1,481 1,562 1,542 1,532 1,552 
			         
			 Q39 South West  1,403 1,386 1,340 1,356 1,343 
			  5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 1,557 1,448 1,394 1,323 1,316 
			  5QN Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 1,549 1,522 1,484 1,516 1,463 
			  5QJ Bristol PCT 1,288 1,257 1,245 1,282 1,271 
			  5QP Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 1,391 1,391 1,241 1,365 1,393 
			  5QQ Devon PCT 1,239 1,226 1,215 1,228 1,163 
			  5QM Dorset PCT 1,366 1,364 1,337 1,323 1,314 
			  5QH Gloucestershire PCT 1,509 1,515 1,390 1,406 1,370 
			  5M8 North Somerset PCT 1,582 1,524 1,448 1,333 1,306 
			  5F1 Plymouth Teaching PCT 1,397 1,393 1,415 1,384 1,415 
			  5QL Somerset PCT 1,339 1,322 1,286 1,305 1,299 
			  5A3 South Gloucestershire PCT 1,426 1,358 1,346 1,379 1,380 
			  5K3 Swindon PCT 1,660 1,661 1,563 1,487 1,572 
			  TAL Torbay Care Trust 1,398 1,428 1,428 1,458 1,459 
			  5QK Wiltshire PCT 1,491 1,482 1,486 1,468 1,477 
			 n/a = data not available Note s: 1. Data are as at 30 September in each year. 2. PCTs provided are those in existence at the time of the relevant census. East and North Hertfordshire and West Hertfordshire PCTs merged in 2010 to form a single Hertfordshire PCT. Wherever the name of a PCT has changed over the time series but the boundaries remained the same the most recent name as at 30 September 2011 has been used. 3. GP figures are excluding GP Retainers and GP Registrars 4. Registered patient figures used for the calculation in the data were taken from the annual GP Census publication, which is collected directly from the Exeter GP payment system. They are numbers of registrations only and do not represent a precise count of physical people as some people are registered multiple times at different practices and similarly some people are not registered with a GP at all. 5. Headcount Methodology: The new headcount methodology from .2010 onwards means this data is not fully comparable with previous years, due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the census publication: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/workforce/nhs-staff-numbers Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. 6. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.

Health Professions: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were working for the NHS in London for NHS trusts (i) in 2010-11, (ii) in 2011-12 and (iii) on 31 July 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The number of doctors and nurses working in the London Strategic Health Authority area by national health service organisation as at 30 September 2012 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community health services: Medical and dental staff and qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in the London Strategic Health Authority area by organisation as at 30 September each specified year (1) 
			 Headcount 
			  2010 2011 2012 
			  Medical and dental staff Qualified nursing staff Medical and dental staff Qualified nursing staff Medical and dental staff Qualified nursing staff 
			 London Strategic Health Authority area 21,623 55,475 21,928 55,578 21,997 56,192 
			        
			 Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust (PCT) 2 20 2 17 2 4 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust 820 1,791 840 2,027 881 2,055 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 669 1,422 682 1,432 694 1,485 
			 Barnet PCT 45 325 39 321 10 0 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust 223 674 224 875 215 846 
			 Barts and The London NHS Trust 1,244 2,561 1,349 2,677 0 0 
			 Barts Health NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 2,047 4,801 
			 Bexley Care Trust 1 11 1 8 3 8 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 24 230 4 10 4 10 
			 Bromley Healthcare 0 0 0 0 21 260 
			 Bromley PCT 33 311 34 282 14 15 
			 Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust 141 563 136 514 135 473 
			 Camden PCT 86 251 80 261 5 0 
			 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust 341 1,173 325 1,181 418 1,728 
			 Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust 0 0 40 765 64 1,066 
			 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 595 1,142 617 1,128 622 1,163 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 29 275 17 30 15 20 
			 Croydon Health Services NHS Trust 450 1,034 457 1,004 454 967 
			 Croydon PCT 7 34 2 0 0 0 
			 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 305 560 363 1,179 364 1,179 
			 Ealing PCT 32 276 4 12 3 12 
			 East London NHS Foundation Trust 292 911 277 1,191 283 1,144 
			 Enfield PCT 14 232 4 2 0 0 
			 Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust 621 1,429 632 1,484 641 1,501 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children NHS Foundation Trust 509 1,184 533 1,145 544 1,246 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 19 250 6 6 8 6 
			 Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust 1,518 3,232 1,543 3,789 1,597 3,891 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 3 40 4 17 2 15 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 35 167 5 10 0 0 
			 Harrow PCT 14 172 0 0 0 0 
			 Havering PCT 28 610 28 525 6 3 
			 Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 376 810 388 814 389 799 
			 Hillingdon PCT 28 272 18 279 2 10 
			 Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 373 784 400 1,064 410 1,068 
			 Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust 0 0 4 0 4 0 
			 Hounslow PCT 1 2 1 2 1 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust 1,704 3,344 1,698 3,370 1,650 3,363 
			 Islington PCT 52 239 1 6 23 30 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 25 772 3 3 3 3 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1,224 2,297 1,261 2,417 1,303 2,562 
			 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 396 856 410 820 415 859 
			 Kingston PCT 2 4 0 0 0 0 
			 Lambeth PCT 40 269 5 4 8 4 
			 Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust 380 877 399 1,042 409 1,030 
			 Lewisham PCT 13 211 3 109 6 95 
			 London Strategic Hearth Authority 7 2 6 1 6 1 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 300 339 311 370 313 370 
			 Newham PCT 15 303 0 0 0 0 
			 Newham University Hospital NHS Trust 331 782 347 783 0 0 
			 North East London NHS Foundation Trust 182 751 195 754 249 1,808 
			 North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 365 749 378 761 377 736 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 746 1,622 770 1,615 770 1,685 
			 Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 146 860 160 1,108 151 1,113 
			 Redbridge PCT 7 92 11 96 2 16 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 16 359 9 322 11 332 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust 383 1,094 390 1,148 410 1,163 
			 Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust 888 1,630 897 1,643 826 1,552 
			 Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust 353 819 346 831 343 1,145 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 144 359 154 372 166 380 
			 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 442 1,600 448 1,540 433 1,537 
			 South London Healthcare NHS Trust 895 2,031 891 2,018 890 1,972 
			 South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust 240 730 246 704 237 630 
			 Southwark PCT 34 230 11 0 11 0 
			 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust 988 2,458 1,072 2,498 1,075 2,522 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 9 331 3 304 0 0 
			 Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust 52 14 52 15 54 17 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 45 327 0 0 0 0 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1,123 2,264 1,135 2,357 1,202 2,366 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 2 11 1 4 1 4 
			 Wandsworth PCT 14 16 21 38 21 32 
			 West London Mental Health NHS Trust 266 1,311 253 1,220 245 1,123 
			 West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 353 751 346 702 342 694 
			 Westminster PCT 11 10 8 3 10 8 
		
	
	
		
			 Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust 413 1,222 429 1,250 0 0 
			 Whittington Hospital NHS Trust 381 831 466 1,286 466 1,228 
			 Your Healthcare 8 179 7 188 6 187 
			 (1) 2010-11 figures are from the annual workforce census, as at 30 September 2012 figures are from the Provisional Monthly Workforce Statistics, as at 30 June. July figures are not yet available. Note : A few NHS organisations existed within the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) database with small numbers of staff as a result of the impact of Transforming Community Services and the resultant system mergers and demergers which were still ongoing in June 2012. Headcount totals may not equal the sum of components: The new headcount methodology from 2010 onwards is not fully comparable with previous years data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication here: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/010_Workforce/nhsstaff0010/Census_Bulletin_March_2011_Final.pdf Monthly data: As from 21 July 2010 the Health and Social Care Information Centre has published provisional monthly NHS workforce data. As expected with provisional statistics, some figures may be revised from month to month as issues are uncovered and resolved. The monthly workforce data is not directly comparable with the annual workforce census; it only includes those staff on the ESR (ie it does not include Primary care staff or Bank staff), it also includes locum doctors (not counted in the annual census). There are also new methods of presenting data (headcount methodology is different and there is now a role count). This information is available from September 2009 onwards at the following website: www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/provisionalmonthlyhchsworkforce Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Provisional Monthly Workforce Statistics

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by the UK under the European Health Insurance Card Scheme for the treatment of British registered patients in European Economic Area countries in 2011-12; and how much was received under the scheme for the treatment of European Economic Area patients by the NHS.

Anna Soubry: For the year 2011-12, the United Kingdom incurred claims to the value of £134,819,831 from other European economic area countries for treating UK citizens under the European health insurance card scheme. The UK raised equivalent claims to the value of £34,885,773.47.

Heart Diseases

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the role of the long-term conditions outcome strategy will be in improving the quality and uptake of cardiac rehabilitation;
	(2)  what the role of the cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy will be in improving the quality and uptake of cardiac rehabilitation;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to (a) monitor and evaluate usage of and (b) promote to the NHS (i) his Department's commissioning pack for cardiac rehabilitation, (ii) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on cardiac rehabilitation, (iii) the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation standards and core components of cardiac and rehabilitation.

Anna Soubry: The importance of effective cardiac rehabilitation has been underlined in National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines and in the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease. However, we recognise that more can be done to improve the quality and uptake of cardiac rehabilitation which is why it is being considered as part of the development of the cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy.
	The main source of information about cardiac rehabilitation is the National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation; which is funded by the British Heart Foundation. This provides evidence oh the quality and effectiveness of services to encourage local areas to improve their provision of cardiac rehabilitation to that of the best.
	In addition, NHS Improvement recently concluded a programme of work supporting commissioners and providers with implementation of the Department's commissioning pack for cardiac rehabilitation. All the. learning from this programme, together with other NHS Improvement work aimed at driving up quality and efficiency in cardiac rehabilitation services, is captured in a new interactive digital resource, “Quality, innovation and value in cardiac rehabilitation: commissioning for improvement”. The resource actively promotes the Department's commissioning pack, the NICE clinical guidelines on cardiac rehabilitation and the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation standards.
	The Department has been working with stakeholders and colleagues from across Whitehall to identify shared areas of interest that could have an impact on the outcomes for people living with long term conditions, including those with cardio-vascular disease. This work is ongoing.

Heart Diseases

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent progress his Department has made on the cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy,
	(2)  with reference to the joint report, Tackling Cardiovascular Disease: Priorities for the Outcomes Strategy, what account he is taking of the report to inform the forthcoming cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy.

Anna Soubry: Progress continues to be made on the development of the cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy. The joint report, Tackling Cardiovascular Disease: Priorities for the Outcomes Strategy, has made a valuable contribution to this along with the many views and comments that have been received through our engagement activity with a wide range of interests, including patients, carers, health care professionals and voluntary sector organisations. The aim is to publish the outcomes strategy within this financial year.

Insulin

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to collect data on the amounts spent on insulin pumps to treat diabetes.

Anna Soubry: The Department has no current plans to collect data on insulin pump use in England. Insulin pumps and their consumables are non-prescription items and not currently captured in the annual Prescribing for Diabetes in England dataset.
	The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists recently commissioned an insulin pump audit. This showed that there are at least 11,985 people over the age of 18-years-old and at least 4,447 people 17-years-old or younger using an insulin pump in England. Insulin pump therapy is a viable treatment for approximately 12% of adults and children aged over 12-years-old and 33% of children under the age 12 years, who have type 1 diabetes.

Midwives

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives were employed in the NHS in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the likely number of midwives in the NHS in each of the next three years.

Daniel Poulter: The Information Centre for health and social care collects data on the number of midwives working in the National Health Service. The following table shows the number of qualified midwives working in the NHS in each of the last five years.
	
		
			 Full time equivalent (FTE) qualified midwives in England as at 30 September each year 
			  Registered midwives (FTE) 
			 2007 19,298 
			 2008 19,639 
			 2009 20,236 
		
	
	
		
			 2010 20,790 
			 2011 20,519 
			 Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-medical Workforce Census 
		
	
	The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that we have the right number of trained midwives, especially given the increased number and complexity of births in recent years. Women should receive excellent maternity services that focus on the best outcomes, for women and their babies, and the woman's experience of care.
	It is the responsibility of local NHS organisations to plan and deliver a workforce appropriate to the needs of their local population, based on clinical need and sound evidence.
	Since May 2010 an additional 960 midwives are now working in the NHS and midwife training numbers are at a record high, with 2,578 places planned for 2012-13. There are currently around 5,000 midwives in training.

NHS: Finance

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the importance of deprivation weighting in the public health funding formula.

Anna Soubry: This Government has an ambitious vision to help people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives, and to improve the health of the poorest, fastest. From 2013, public health services will be funded by a new ring-fenced grant that will be allocated to upper tier and unitary local authorities to carry out specific public health functions.
	The development of the funding formula to support the allocation of public health resources is being overseen by the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA). ACRA’s interim recommendations on the formula were published in June followed by a period of engagement with key national and local stakeholders from both local government and the national health service.
	ACRA’s interim formula is based principally on a measure of population health which will be applied to small areas to take account of localised health inequalities within local authority areas. This means that funding is targeted towards those areas with the poorest health outcomes and greatest deprivation. Building up from small areas means the formula can take account of pockets of deprivation in local authorities that otherwise have good health outcomes.
	ACRA has used the feedback to finalise its recommendations on the formula to be used for the allocation of the 2013-14 ring-fenced grant to local authorities. These recommendations have now been sent to the Secretary of State for consideration. Full details of their recommendations will be published in due course.

NHS: Procurement

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what savings have been made as part of the QIPP challenge relating to the procurement of consumables as regards (a) price variation and (b) improved use and management of stock at (i) national, (ii) regional and (iii) local level in the last two financial years;
	(2)  what proportion of the QIPP challenge efficiency savings (a) strategic health authorities and (b) foundation trusts have identified as necessary to make within the (i) procurement work stream and (ii) area of procured consumables in (A) 2012-13, (B) 2013-14 and (C) 2014-15;
	(3)  what progress he has made on increasing transparency in price variation in the procurement of consumables as recommended in the National Audit Office report, entitled The procurement of consumables by NHS acute and foundation trusts, HC 705, session 2010-11.

Anna Soubry: Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) delivery has now been mainstreamed into 'business as usual' and progress continues to be monitored at a national level. Integrated performance measures, covering quality, resources and reform as laid out in the Operating Framework for 2012-13 are used by the Department to ensure that the national health service is on track to deliver the QIPP challenge, and maintain quality. The Department has started to collect data on the actual QIPP savings made by the NHS. Both of these elements are published in ‘The Quarter 20’, which outlines the NHS financial position and progress made in health and care services on a quarterly basis.
	The Quarter can be accessed via the following link:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_131955
	A price benchmarking pilot with 20 trusts for 12 products was undertaken with support from the Foundation Trust Network and the results were published in September 2011 along with guidance to trusts on using the analysis to understand how they can undertake more benchmarking.
	In May 2012, the Department published: ‘NHS Procurement Raising our Game’, which sets out steps that the NHS should take immediately to start the journey of improvement in procurement. ‘Raising Our Game’ recommends key actions for improvement which include:
	the NHS must share data, so that the prices paid for the same goods and services can be seen by different organisations;
	trusts should publish all tender and contract information for tenders over £10,000; and
	trusts should stop signing non-disclosure agreements with suppliers which prevent the free sharing of pricing information between trusts.
	The NHS supply chain pilot for using web-based systems, which allow them to be more transparent on their offer, is under way, with progress monitored by the Department. Additionally, benchmarking has been included as a workstream of the NHS Supply Chain Customer Board to determine how the NHS can best make use of NHS supply chain's data to achieve efficiencies through comparison with other NHS organisations.

NHS: Procurement

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to monitor the payment (a) of its main contractors within 14 days and (b) by main contractors to sub-contractors within 30 days.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not specifically monitor the proportion of payments made within 14 days as this is not a target that has been set. The Department of Health operates standard contractual payment terms of 30 days.
	However, the Department has also signed up to the Government's Prompt Payment policy under which the target is to pay all valid supplier invoices that are received at the nominated address within five days of receipt. Performance against this target is expected to be published on the Department's website within six days of the previous month. Performance against this target has not fallen below 90% since January 2011.
	The Department's standard terms and conditions of contract include provision that subcontractors must be paid by the Department's contractors within 30 days. The Department would investigate complaints by a subcontractor to ensure our contractors continue to meet their contractual responsibilities.

NHS: Redundancy

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS employees have been made redundant and reemployed as consultants by his Department in each of the last seven years.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not employ management consultants. It contracts for the delivery of consultancy services from companies and does not keep central records of the number nor the identities of individual management consultants used by those companies to deliver the services for each contract.
	The Department's central human resources and procurement records do not hold information about the previous employment and redundancy history of any individual consultant, contractor or other supplier we engage or contract with.

NHS: Secondment

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many employees of NHS care trusts were seconded to his Department in each year since 2005;
	(2)  how many employees of NHS ambulance trusts were seconded to his Department in each year since 2005;
	(3)  how many employees of NHS special health authorities were seconded to his Department in each of the last seven years;
	(4)  how many employees of NHS mental health trusts were seconded to his Department in each of the last seven years;
	(5)  how many employees of NHS acute trusts were seconded to his Department in each of the last seven years;
	(6)  how many employees of NHS foundation trusts were seconded to his Department in each of the last seven years;
	(7)  how many employees of NHS strategic health authorities were seconded to his Department in each of the last seven years;
	(8)  how many employees of NHS primary care trusts were seconded to his Department in each of the last seven years;
	(9)  how many NHS employees were seconded to his Department in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007, (d) 2008, (e) 2009, (f) 2010, (g) 2011 and (h) 2012 to date.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's electronic business management system collates information on the number of employees seconded to the Department but does not hold information on the organisations from which staff are seconded in to the Department.
	The following table gives information about the number of secondees (as full-time equivalents) into the Department as of 30 September in each year.
	
		
			 ‘Secondees-in’ at Department of Health 
			  Full-time equivalents 
			 2005 97 
			 2006 129 
			 2007 147 
			 2008 177 
			 2009 289 
			 2010 283 
			 2011 169 
			 2012 167 
		
	
	It should be noted that data from the previous, administrative systems that the Department's business management system (BMS) replaced, existing prior to 1 July 2008, are not totally reliable.
	To provide information as requested about the organisations from which staff were seconded would require a manual search of all the personnel records for secondees since 2007, which would incur disproportionate costs.

Radiotherapy

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which the Cancer Radiotherapy Innovation Fund will increase access to intensity modulated radiotherapy;
	(2)  when he plans to present detailed plans for the implementation of the Cancer Radiotherapy Innovation Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Radiotherapy Innovation Fund will ensure that, from April 2013, radiotherapy centres will be ready to deliver treatment using intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to all national health service patients who need it.
	In August 2012, the National Cancer Director wrote to all radiotherapy centres asking them to prepare action plans to enable them to deliver 24% of radical treatment using inverse planned IMRT from the end of March 2013. Those plans have been reviewed and the Department is working with the National Radiotherapy Implementation Group, which includes the relevant professional bodies and Cancer Research UK, to develop criteria and help centres bid for money to support delivery of their action plans, which might include the purchase of additional software licences that may be needed.
	National support will also be provided through a programme of visits to individual centres by expert teams. These visits will begin shortly and are due to complete in December 2012. Training courses aimed at clinical teams will be delivered around the country from January to March 2013.

Research

Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what external policy research his Department has commissioned in each of the last six years; from which organisation each such piece of research was commissioned; and what the cost of each such piece of research was.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's Policy Research Programme (PRP) funds research in three main ways:
	(i) long-term programmes of research in academic policy research units, designed to meet the longer-term research needs of the Department as well as to provide a rapid response functions;
	(ii) large-scale initiatives, comprising linked groups of studies, providing a range of empirical evidence on a key policy area or issue; and
	(iii) single projects and literature or scoping reviews. PRP research is usually commissioned by open competitive tender.
	A list of PRP-funded research starting between April 2006 and September 2012 has been placed in the Library.

Respiratory System: Health Services

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to retain the expertise of the Regional Respiratory Programme boards.

Anna Soubry: Funding for the regional respiratory programme boards runs until 31 March 2013. Any central financial support after this date is a matter for the NHS Commissioning Board. Regional financial support will be a matter for clinical commissioning groups.

Waste Disposal: Health Hazards

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken since the investigation by the Health Protection Agency in 2003 into clusters of diseases linked to long-term exposure to chemicals from landfill sites and incinerators.

Anna Soubry: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has assessed “the impact on health of emissions to air from municipal waste incinerators”. The agency concluded that modern, well managed incinerators make only a small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. It stated that it is possible that such small additions could have an impact on health but such effects, if they exist, are likely to be very small and not detectable.
	The HPA has also considered “the impact on health of emissions from landfill sites”. It concluded that a well-managed modern landfill site does not pose a significant risk to human health.
	Both documents can be found on the HPA's website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_ C/1251473372218
	www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_ C/1309969974126